I quit my job helping chickens hatch to become a professional darts star, now I’m competing at PDC World Championship

JOSH ROCK is poised for future fame – but he’s not one to count his chickens before they hatch.

Although he used to do exactly that for a living!

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You don’t have to be crazy to call Rock the brightest young sportsman to emerge from Northern Ireland since golfer Rory McIlroy.

The 21-year-old was in top form this year, especially with his all-in-one nine-darter in the loss to Michael van Gerwen at the Grand Slam of Darts.

And he is hungry for success even though this is his rookie appearance at the PDC World Championship on Saturday.

But just three months ago he was responsible for ensuring the chicks had the right conditions to hatch.

Rock explained, “I’m doing darts full-time now. I quit my old job this year.

“I worked in the Moy Park chicken factories. My job was to help the chicks hatch before they head off to their farms to grow bigger – and before they end up on your plate.

“I did the easy part. I haven’t done bad things!

“It’s all about the heat. You get under these big massive heaters for three weeks and then under another heater for three days.

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“You push eggs all over the place. I did that for about a year and a half.

“I started doing this in the summer of 2021 after the lockdown rules were lifted. But now it’s just darts.”

An astute judge like Barry Hearn – the darts supremo – has watched Rock’s progress with keen interest.

The Antrim ace, who hits balls in the same snooker halls as local hero Mark Allen, became World Youth Darts Champion last month with a 104.13 average in the final.

After securing a tour card at Q School last January, he claimed his first Players Championship crown in October when he defeated Luke Humphries in the final of Event 28 at Barnsley.

Rock, whose sporting hero is Gary Anderson, would eclipse Van Gerwen as the youngest World Champion in PDC history if he went all the way during this festive season.

There’s a swagger about rock, something UFC fans would recognize in fighter Conor McGregor.

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The world No. 47, who plays Spain’s José Justicia, said: “In this sport you don’t end your career at 21, it’s all about learning.

“If I win the World Cup this year, happy days bonus we will all laugh. But at the same time you have to keep learning.

“If one day I could be world number 1 and world champion at the same time, I would bite your hand off for it.

“I’ll take it on the chin if it never happens.

“Rob Cross made it to world level in his first year – why can’t I? I am fearless

“You mustn’t be afraid. When you’re scared, there’s no point in pushing yourself every time.

“You have to have the same attitude towards everyone. It may sound daring, but you have to do it. I’m an old head on young shoulders, as you might say.

“You have to be confident, if you’re not, there’s no point.

“Last year I wasn’t here and now I’m here. I’m doing what I’ve always dreamed of. It’s inner confidence.

“If you believe in yourself, you will make it. I hit massive averages but that was on the floor. I know I can do it on stage – I just have to show it.”