I’m all about the banter: Clayton

JONNY Clayton is looking forward to another Wales v Australia sporting showdown when the Palmerbet Queensland Darts Masters kicks off on Friday night in Townsville.

Welsh star Clayton and teammate Gerwyn Price lost to Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock as Australia won their first World Cup of Darts title in Frankfurt in June.

Clayton and Price are among the eight Professional Darts Corporation stars lined up to take on the home-based players at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.

Clayton, who won the World Series of Darts finals last year, could take on Whitlock, Heta, Uk-based tour professional Gordon Mathers or one of the five other qualifiers in the first round and knows it will not be easy whoever he draws.

“We are the eight representing the PDC,” he said.

“But a lot of the players we are up against are on the PDC tour, so, we know what they are like.

“Gerwyn and I lost to Damon and Simon in the World Cup and we know that they are serious darts players.

“The title’s anybody’s, to be honest. Whoever performs on the weekend will pick up that trophy.”

Clayton, 47, is a big rugby union fan and says just like Australia, Wales is a proud sporting nation.

This is his first visit Down Under and he is hoping for some crowd participation in Townsville this weekend before the World Series roadshow moves on to Wollongong on August 19 and 20.

“I thrive on banter, to be honest,” said Clayton, who won four TV titles on the PDC Tour in 2021.

“I had the experience of playing through Covid where it was behind closed doors.

“I did well during that, but I prefer the crowd and the banter. It’s the Welsh against the Aussies and we’re both proud sports nations. We want to do well.

“I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be fantastic, and I hope the crowd got involved and we put on a show.”