THEY say the bookies are never wrong – but Joe Cullen would beg to differ.

Finally, the old question does not have to be asked.

It is a different Cullen who will step out in the bright lights of London’s Alexandra Palace next week for the PDC World Darts Championship.

The Wyke professional will no longer be carrying with him the tag of never having won a game there.

Last year’s first-round victory over Australian danger man Corey Cadby was a breakthrough moment for a player who is becoming a rising star in the sport.

And you can thank the on-site bookmakers for that.

Cullen emerged from the opening round for the first time in seven attempts, pumped up by a late change in pre-match odds.

He said: “I was favourite to win before the game. But because Corey had a prelim first that night and played really well, suddenly the bookies switched it round and were backing him.

“I was thinking ‘hang on a minute, I’m the seed here so that’s not right’. It probably put a bit of fire in my belly and I played better because of that.

“He intimidates a lot of players the way he is on stage and his large persona. But I was bang up for it after that and it was good to finally get the monkey off my back.”

Disappointment immediately followed in the next round when Cullen crashed out to two-time champion Adrian Lewis without winning a set.

He admitted: “It was a bit of a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show. It just never happened for me.

“You saw the scoreline 4-0 and it looks like he hammered me. But it wasn’t as if he was in one of those moods when he was unstoppable.

“He didn’t do anything special at all – he didn’t have to. The harsh truth is I was awful. It was one of those you just have to take on the chin and move on.”

Cullen has progressed nicely through 2017 to move up to 19th in the world – the highest point of his career. He is widely tipped to continue to shoot up the ladder – but the 28-year-old remains his own biggest critic.

While he won his first two players championship titles on the private floor competitions, success in the major tournaments eludes him.

Cullen said: “Look at my ranking now and it’s almost solely based on floor form. If I could take that form into the TV events, then you’re looking at top ten easy.

“I don’t think I’m having much luck on TV. I’ve played all right, it’s not as if I’m getting turned over.

“It’s not down to nerves, I’m just being edged out each time. After games, you’re obviously frustrated, but then you sit down and look back at it and see you’ve given yourself a chance.

“It’s not like I’m losing 10-4 and you’re looking at yourself thinking, ‘hang on, something’s drastically wrong here’. But it’s still a slow learning curve.

“The last two TV tournaments have been disappointing. But it’s a strange one.

“I’ve won my first two ranking titles and earned more money than I did last year. But I felt I was in a better place last year, if that makes sense, and I was a lot more consistent.

“I was at the latter end of nearly all the tournaments. This year, I’ll have three bad ones, then I’ll win one, three more bad ones and then I’ll get to a semi.

“But the chance is here now with the worlds. Have a good one here and the rest is forgotten.”

Cullen kicks off his campaign next Saturday night against Dutch qualifier Jermaine Wattimena, known as the ‘machine gun’ for his rapid release.

They have met only once before, Wattimena winning 6-5, but Cullen’s experience on the stage should see him make quick work of the qualifier.

Benito van de Pas or Steve West await the winner on December 23, with a post-Christmas clash against 2015 and 2016 champion Gary Anderson in the last 16 if seedings go to plan.

Cullen said: “You don’t want to target too far ahead of yourself. But I’m happy with the first round and if I play like I can, I’ll definitely win.

“I’ve got good records against Steve West and Benito – and I’ve done well against Gary. I beat him once in Glasgow on TV and 6-0 before that!”

This year’s tournament has an extra edge as it marks the final hurrah of Phil Taylor. ‘The Power’ is eyeing an incredible 17th title as his farewell.

Cullen said: “Phil’s experienced enough to take it with a pinch of salt. But he’ll be dying to win.

“He’s always got a chance, whether it’s best of one leg or 101. He’s been written off so many times in the past and then come back and won the worlds or something.

“Although he’s given some really odd interviews lately and said some strange things. It reminds me a bit about Roy Keane, an absolute Manchester United legend who slagged the club off when he left.

“But he’s still the benchmark and has been for so many years. (Michael) Van Gerwen has taken over now but you’d never rule out Taylor.”