JOE Cullen is candid enough to admit he is badly out of form heading into the Betfred World Matchplay this weekend, but few were aware of the distressing few months he has had away from the oche.

Both of the Bradford darts ace’s sisters have been unwell, and he told the T&A their plight has left him struggling to concentrate on his performances.

But things are looking rosier now for the pair, with Cullen going on holiday with them the day after the Matchplay final on July 21.

With the Wyke native in a better headspace now, and memories of reaching the semi-finals at this major last year still fresh, he feels capable of producing something close to his best in Blackpool, starting with his first-round match on Sunday against Brendan Dolan.

Cullen told the T&A: “I haven’t been playing great of late, but the TV tournaments are the best place to find your form.

“There have been a few things going on away from darts, with both of my sisters being pretty ill, so I’ve not put in the amount of practice I would do normally.

“I’ve been a bit distracted away from darts because it was just a case of putting my family first.

“Things seem to be getting a little better for my sisters now, so that’s a real positive.”

The margin for error in a precision game like darts is so slim, and Cullen reflected: “My sisters being ill has affected the concentration side of things for me more than anything.

“I found it a bit difficult to focus during games, and it felt I was mentally drifting in and out of them.

“That was more of a factor in my performances rather than the darts and my throwing itself.

“That’s tough to deal with, because a lot of the game is between your ears.”

Joe Cullen has struggled for form in the first six months of the year.Joe Cullen has struggled for form in the first six months of the year. (Image: Taylor Lanning/PDC.)

With less to focus on at the Winter Gardens then, does Cullen expect his performance levels to rise?

He said: “I’m hoping having less to think about will help me at the Matchplay.

“I’ve booked a holiday for the day after the final and my sisters will be going with me, so that’s something to look forward to.

“I’d like to have a good run this week and, while I’m desperate to win the whole thing like anyone would be, I just want to rediscover a bit of form.

“What’s frustrated me of late is that while I don’t mind losing to players who I probably should beat, I’m not making them do anything special to beat me.

“If I play well on Sunday, but Brendan produces a 105 or 110 average and beats me, I’ve got no problem with that at all, that happens.

“You want to try and make somebody beat you, not just roll over for them.”

The Matchplay only features the cream of the crop, with the top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit (Cullen currently sits 15th) joined by the 16 top-ranked players on the Pro Tour Order of Merit who hadn’t already qualified through the main PDC version.

Only Ritchie Edhouse is competing at the Matchplay from outside of the world’s top 35 players, with Dolan currently ranked 28th.

And Cullen warned: “Over the last 18 months or so Brendan has sped his game up.

“I used to struggle to play him in the past because he was very slow and deliberate, but his game seems to have benefitted from that change he’s made, and he won on the Pro Tour back in May.

“Brendan’s a proper nice fella as well, he’s a jolly, jovial Irishman who I get on very well with.

“It should be a good game between us on Sunday and maybe a lot faster than people are anticipating.”