"I'm concerned for Gerwyn Price. I spoke to him over the weekend - he put out a tweet to say I think I need a break, not enjoying it at the moment"
Wednesday 21 March 2018 14:42, UK
Gerwyn Price is still searching for his first Premier League victory as he bids to avoid elimination on Judgement Night, but he needs to "relax and just enjoy it up there", says Wayne Mardle.
'The Iceman' has endured a difficult start to life in the Premier League and currently sits bottom of the pile with two points from his opening six matches.
He takes on world champion Rob Cross in Glasgow on Thursday night, with 'Voltage' looking for his fifth consecutive league victory. However, defeat for Price could leave him on the brink of elimination.
Since claiming a share of the spoils against Peter Wright on the opening night, the Welshman has suffered four defeats in five matches, with his only other point coming in a scrappy 6-6 draw against Daryl Gurney.
He showed signs of a return to form by reaching the UK Open quarter-finals earlier this month, but has been unable to transfer that to the Premier League stage and over the weekend, he suffered back-to-back opening-round defeats on the Pro Tour circuit in Milton Keynes.
Mardle admits that the Premier League is an unforgiving and draining event, but he believes Price must remain positive and stop putting himself under pressure in order to produce the darts he's capable of.
I spoke to him and just said you've got to get up there and just enjoy it. Don't make it any worse than it is and don't put yourself under pressure.
The Sky Sports pundit said: "I'm concerned for Gerwyn Price. I spoke to him over the weekend - he put out a tweet to say I think I need a break, not enjoying it at the moment.
"That was after being beaten in a tour event and I just sent him a little friendly message saying: 'Head up pal. You're in a great position. You're just not having the results that you kind of need to give you that zest'.
"It's just Sport in general isn't it? Some weeks it goes for you and some weeks it doesn't. When you are not winning in the Premier League, I know how difficult it is. I was in it for four years and struggled four times. Even when I did okay I felt I was still struggling.
"You've just got to keep at it and keep upbeat because it's one event. It lasts forever and that's the problem - it just goes on and on and on and one week should have no bearing on the next, but it does, because we're human beings and we don't forget that quickly."
It's been a baptism of fire for Price in his debut Premier League campaign and Mardle believes that the former rugby hooker is putting too much emphasis on performances. Nevertheless, 'Hawaii 501' insists Price is "great for darts" and simply needs to relax to produce his best form.
"I spoke to him and just said you've got to get up there and just enjoy it. Don't make it any worse than it is and don't put yourself under pressure. I really do believe that's the way he should go into it. He's too worried about performances.
"It's got to the point now where Gerwyn Price is just worried about not letting himself down and he wants the performance I think more than the points right now, because he thinks he's going to be eliminated and maybe not be in the Premier League again."
"I think he's got a lot to offer; I like the way he plays the game, I like the way he looks - I think it's great for darts. We just need to see him relax and just enjoy it up there. He's worked hard to get where he is, don't let a little downbeat period beat you up and put you in a dismal place, because the world of sport and your opponents will do that."
Wayne Mardle was speaking to Sky Sports' Raz Mirza. The 2018 Premier League heads to the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Thursday with coverage underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event. Eight weeks of tungsten action will then continue through to the season's conclusion with the Play-Offs on May 17 at The O2 in London.
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