In the high-octane world of professional darts, where the roar of the crowd can lift a player to glory or crush them in an instant, a veteran voice has cut through the noise with a message of support and sanity. Rob Cross, the 2018 PDC World Champion whose own meteoric rise and subsequent battles have made him a respected figure in the sport, has stepped forward to shield two of darts’ brightest young talents from the relentless barrage of online abuse.
Cross has a direct and unflinching message for the social media trolls who have been piling on Luke Littler and Josh Rock amid their recent struggles: back off.
The 2018 world champion, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, believes the digital age has amplified criticism to toxic levels. “Social media trolls are too quick to judge the players nowadays,” Cross declared, his words carrying the weight of someone who has lived through the intense pressures of life at the top. In an era where every missed double is dissected in real time by thousands, he argues that young stars deserve space to grow, stumble, and ultimately flourish without the constant threat of vicious online attacks.
The timing of Cross’s intervention could hardly be more relevant. The Premier League Darts, the sport’s glamorous weekly showcase that pits the world’s elite against one another in front of packed arenas and millions of viewers, is well underway. And for two of its most exciting protagonists, the campaign has been tougher than expected.
Luke Littler, the sensational teenager who exploded onto the global stage and became the youngest player to reach a World Championship final, has so far managed just one win in this year’s Premier League. For a player who has redefined the sport with his fearless finishing, crowd-pleasing charisma, and seemingly endless supply of 180s, this dip in form has been seized upon by critics. The same fans who once chanted his name through raucous nights at Alexandra Palace are now, in some corners of the internet, quick to label him overrated or finished.
Alongside him, Josh Rock—the explosive Northern Irish talent nicknamed “Rocky” for his powerful, no-nonsense throwing style—has also felt the heat. Rock has lost both of his quarter-final clashes as the Premier League caravan rolls on, leaving him searching for rhythm in a competition that demands consistency night after night. Rock’s raw power and big-match temperament have long marked him out as a future world beater, but the unforgiving nature of the format has exposed the challenges of performing under constant scrutiny.
Cross, who knows better than most what it takes to handle the spotlight, sees the bigger picture. He has watched Littler transform darts from a pub game into a rock ‘n’ roll spectacle, drawing in younger audiences and elevating the entire sport. He has seen Rock’s potential to become a major force, with the kind of natural ability that can’t be taught. And he recognises that both are still navigating the brutal learning curve that comes with being thrust into the limelight at such a young age.
“These lads are superstars in the making,” Cross’s stance implies, even if his exact phrasing was more direct. The message is clear: the trolls need to ease off. Professional darts is a brutal meritocracy. Players travel the globe, practise for hours daily, and perform in environments that would test the strongest minds. One bad night, one off weekend, does not define a career—especially not for athletes who have already achieved so much so soon.
The darts community has always prided itself on its camaraderie. Players from different generations share advice, celebrate each other’s successes, and support one another through the inevitable lows. Cross’s intervention is a powerful reminder of that spirit. It echoes the mentorship he himself received early in his career and the resilience he built through his own setbacks after that magical 2018 triumph.
As the Premier League continues its thrilling journey, with nights still to come in iconic venues across the UK and Europe, the spotlight remains firmly on Littler and Rock. Both have the talent, the mentality, and the backing of legends like Cross to turn things around in spectacular fashion. Littler’s ability to produce magic under pressure has already produced some of the most memorable moments in recent darts history. Rock’s thunderous scoring and clinical finishing suggest that when the pieces fall into place, he will be unstoppable.
In the end, Rob Cross’s call to the trolls is more than just a defence of two players—it is a defence of the sport itself. Darts thrives on passion, drama, and larger-than-life personalities. But it also needs patience, understanding, and the space for its young stars to evolve. The haters may shout loudest online, but the real story is being written on the oche, where Littler and Rock are still very much the future.
And with voices like Cross making sure the noise doesn’t drown out the talent, that future looks brighter than ever. The darts world would do well to listen. Back off, let them play, and enjoy the ride. The best is yet to come.
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