"If he doesn’t win, he gets my hand around his neck and I will throw him out of the building" - Strongman Tom Stoltman backs Josh Rock to get back to his best

Josh Rock's Premier League Darts campaign has not gone to plan. His blistering form, showcased regularly throughout the 2025 season, which got him a place in the coveted competition, has vanished as he continues to look for his best form. Strongman and good friend Tom Stoltman has given 'Rocky' some 'back slaps' as he encourages Rock to find his best game once more.

Without a nightly win, Rock is firmly planted to the bottom of the league. His most recent display saw him on the end of a 6-3 defeat against a rampant Luke Littler in Aberdeen. The highlight in this Premier League was in his home event in Belfast where he pinned perfection in front of a loving support, going on to lose in a convincing manner against Gian van Veen.

He has received some support from Stoltman. The pair know each other through football: both supporters of Scottish club Rangers. “Through Rangers Football Club, we are both big fans of that. We’ve been messaging back and forth for a while," Stoltham said

“He invited me down to Glasgow just recently, and I had some good fun with him over there. Then he invited me down to Aberdeen to chill out and go see him backstage. He is a really good guy. We go to the football together, and we are just really good friends now. He is a really good darts player as well, so that makes it even better."

His glowing praise of the World Cup winner has unfortunately not seen him reach his peak level on the oche. Stoltman has been doing his part in helping Rock get back to grips.

“I’ve been giving him some back slaps," he said ahead of his clash against Littler in Aberdeen. "He needs to get his act together a wee bit! His first match against Luke Littler is going to be tough."

He believed that Rock could do it, but there would be an unpleasant surprise if he could not. “If anyone can do it, he can. I’ll be there supporting him in the crowd, and if he doesn’t win, he gets my hand around his neck and I will throw him out of the building for you.”

Inspired by Rock, Stoltman gave darts a go himself, struggling a bit more than lifting some weights. "Throwing darts is hard. I have a setup at home and I don’t know how they do it. They make it look easy," he said. “I hit ones and threes, then I am off the board. It is hard. Darts is a very skilful sport. It is like strongman, which is also a very skilful sport. "

If he had to pick one, it would be an easy choice. “I would pick lifting weights over throwing darts and doing mathematics any day of the week.”