"I was just a proud Northern Irishman winning the World Cup for our country" - Josh Rock unveils tricks behind becoming a World Cup champion

Josh Rock is set to return as team captain for Northern Ireland alongside Daryl Gurney as they look to repeat the success of last year at the World Cup of Darts. He touched on how his and Gurney's relationship got them over the line with the excitement brewing for a title defence.

The final was a hugely dramatic one. It went to a last-leg decider where a brilliant leg of darts from both players managed to get the better of Wales as they secured a first World Cup title for their country. In Rock's case, his only ever major title.

Speaking on Sky Sports, he was hopeful to triumph again in Frankfurt. "It's very, very special for me and Daryl," he began. "It was the first time we partnered up together and we ended up winning the World Cup. When you put that jersey on for your country, as Paul knows from playing for Australia, it's very special and you really want to do well for your country."

Those emotional and jubilant scenes have been regularly viewed by Rock in the months that have followed. "About a million times, I think," he exclaimed. "I was just a proud Northern Irishman winning the World Cup for our country. It was probably one of the tightest World Cup finals we've ever seen, and to be part of it was great.

"I really didn't want that much pressure at the end, though. I thought we had the game under control. It would've been nice if it had been a little easier on us, but when you're up against one of the best partnerships in darts, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, you know what you're facing."

He stated the importance of having someone that he gets along with and works well together rather than lumping some individuals together. "It's obviously not a singles event—it's a team event. I think it depends on how close you are with your partner. Me and Daryl are very, very close off stage and behind the scenes, and I think that's why we clicked so well. I did all the scoring, he did the finishing, so hopefully that happens again this year."

This showed in that final leg last year. Gurney hit a 180 before a magnificent 171 by Rock left the former world number three on double eight. "The whole tournament I was tasked with hitting the big scores because I learned in pairs matches that if I hit a big score, it gives me a couple of seconds to settle myself down while the other players are throwing," he commented. "In that situation, Daryl hit a 180, then Gezzy hit a 180 and gave it plenty. I was just trying to keep my emotions under control. When I hit the 171, I looked over at my best friend and his dad, and that was it."

While other teams get along well internally, it is about producing it on stage. 'Rocky' used the England duo of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries as an example. "The two Lukes get on well, but last year was their first tournament together as a partnership. They had to learn how to become a team rather than just two individuals. Me and Daryl really wanted to play together and were looking forward to it. We proved that last year and hopefully we'll do our best to retain the title this year. That said, I think it's going to be tougher than it was last year."

He does not pay attention to what anyone else is doing. "Not really. Me and Daryl walked in together and left together at the World Cup last year. We went for lunch together, dinner together—pretty much did everything together. I'd imagine we'll do the same again this year. We don't really pay attention to what other teams are doing."

If it is not broken, do not fix it. "I'm not really a superstitious person, but I wouldn't be surprised if Daryl wanted to go back to the same places."

In truth, Rock's Premier League debut was not a classic. Never really finding his best stuff, it took him a number of weeks to get his first win on the board while a nine-darter in Belfast in front of a home crowd was the obvious high point.

"Obviously it didn't go to plan results-wise," Rock admitted. "But from an experience point of view, I'd do it all over again. It was heartbreaking not to get the results I wanted, but it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Playing in the Premier League, being on Sky Sports for 16 straight weeks and facing the best players in the world every week was incredible. The travelling is tough, but I'd still do it all over again."

Still a young player, Rock gained a lot of experience and learned so may things in this campaign. "When I was a kid watching Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and the others in the Premier League, you just think they turn up and play," he said. "When you're actually involved, you realise it's not like that at all. It's constant travelling, constant preparation. It's very tough and you have to be mentally strong. Thankfully, I believe I'm mentally strong when it comes to those sorts of things.

"I've learned about the bigger crowds and the different atmosphere. At Euro Tours you're playing in front of maybe 2,500 or 3,000 people and everything feels more compact. Then you go into arenas with 12,000, 14,000 or even 17,000 people. It's a completely different environment."

His nine-darter in the Northern Ireland capital came out of nowhere. Playing dreadfully, he plucked the perfect leg out of thin air but it brought a huge amount of joy not just to him, but the crowd. "To be honest, I hadn't given them much to cheer about because I was playing woefully before that," he stated. "I think I put myself under too much pressure because I desperately wanted to perform well in Belfast. It's our only home Premier League night.

"Scotland gets Glasgow and Aberdeen, England gets several nights, and there are events in Rotterdam and Belgium as well. When it's your home crowd, you really want to perform for them. I think I was trying too hard. Maybe somebody was looking down on me and decided to give me that nine-darter."

Away from the Premier League, Rock has been playing some good darts. He reached the semi-final of the UK Open where Littler ended his title charge. He secured a second European Tour title at the Austrian Darts Open in a thrilling final against Kevin Doets.

With the Premier League taking priority, he has had to pick and choose certain events so he can still be with his family on a regular basis. "I've got a family at home. I want to spend time with my wife and my two kids whenever I can. I think I've done okay balancing my schedule with the European Tours, Pro Tours and everything else.

"I've had a decent start to the year. I made the semi-finals of the UK Open and the quarter-finals of The Masters. Whenever you're playing the best players in the world, you know exactly what you're up against. So overall I've started okay, and hopefully it continues."

A confident Rock set his sights on the World Matchplay. He lost in the semi-finals last year, again to Littler, and is backing himself for another title charge. I'm fancying my chances at every trophy. I really want to win all the majors. The problem is there are a lot of players standing in my way, and they're the best players in the world for a reason. They know how to win. I'm still learning how to win."

He outlined his targets for this year, breaking new ground from a silverware and ranking basis. "Winning an individual major would be nice. But the main goal is trying to get into the world's top four," he concluded.