Meet the Oceania Representatives for the 2025 Australian Darts Masters

The sixth World Series event of the season takes place this weekend, running from Friday 8th to Saturday 9th August, as the tour heads to the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, Australia.

The 16-player field features eight Oceania representatives, including Australian legend and 2022 PDC World Cup winner Simon Whitlock as an invited player, PDC Tour Card holder Haupai Puha, the top five DPA qualifiers, and the top DPNZ qualifier.

With a lively home crowd expected to be firmly behind their players in the hunt for upsets, let’s take a closer look at the Oceania hopefuls at the 2025 Australian Darts Masters.

Simon Whitlock

Nickname: The Wizard

At 56, Simon Whitlock remains the most recognisable and successful player ever to emerge from the Southern Hemisphere. Across a decorated two-decade career, The Wizard has lifted 18 PDC titles, including his major breakthrough at the 2012 European Championship. Before switching to the PDC, he reached the 2008 BDO World Championship final, and just two years later made it all the way to the PDC World Championship final, losing 7–3 in sets to the legendary Phil Taylor.

Before turning full-time professional, Whitlock dominated the Darts Players Australia (DPA) circuit with 30 titles, but his proudest moment came in 2022 when he partnered Damon Heta to win Australia’s first PDC World Cup of Darts. He has been an ever-present for his country in the event, always delivering passionate and high-quality performances in the green and gold.

After losing his PDC Tour Card at the end of 2024 and failing to win it back in 2025, Whitlock has shifted his focus to the World Seniors Tour. He will also remain in Australia to compete in the inaugural ANZ Premier League, set to begin in October.

Round 1 Opponent: Josh Rock

Haupai Puha - PDC World No.95

Nickname: Hopes

A latecomer to the sport, Haupai Puha only began playing darts in 2017 but made rapid progress, winning DPA Pro Tour titles within two years. In 2018, he qualified for two World Series events as the No. 2 on the DPNZ rankings, losing out to Rob Cross and the late Kyle Anderson in the first round on both occasions.

Since then, Puha has claimed six DPNZ Pro Tour titles and made history in January 2024 by becoming the first New Zealander to earn a PDC Tour Card. He has proudly represented his country in both the WDF and PDC systems, competing once at the WDF World Championship and twice at the PDC World Championship, exiting in the first round on all three occasions.

Round 1 Opponent: Luke Littler

Joe Comito - DPA #1

Nickname: The Waterboy

The 44-year-old from Harvey, Australia, currently leads the Darts Players Australia Tour by a comfortable margin. With a career spanning over two decades, Comito lifted the BDO Australian Darts Masters title in 2005 and, in recent years, has shown marked improvement on the DPA circuit, winning five Pro Tour titles across the past three seasons.

He also qualified for the 2025 PDC World Championship after winning the DPA Tour, but lost out 3–1 in sets to France’s No. 1 Thibault Tricole in the opening round at Alexandra Palace.

Comito will be hoping to make his mark on the big stage after a tough run in his previous three World Series appearances, where he has managed to win just one leg in total. He suffered whitewash defeats to Michael Smith and Damon Heta, and in 2024 averaged just 70 in a 6–1 loss to World No. 1 Luke Humphries.

Capable of far better, Comito will be aiming to bring his best game against a formidable first-round opponent in Gerwyn Price.

Round 1 Opponent: Gerwyn Price

James Bailey - DPA #2

Nickname: The Bull

A seasoned figure in Australian darts, 55-year-old James Bailey has been competing professionally since 2011. Born in Melbourne, he has collected nine DPA Pro Tour titles during his career and qualified for two PDC World Championships.

Although he fell in the first round on both occasions, Bailey produced spirited performances and has also proudly represented Australia. One of his standout achievements came at the 2014 WDF Asia-Pacific Cup, where he claimed two bronze medals, a silver medal, and a gold medal in the overall team event, a proud moment for ‘The Bull’.

Round 1 Opponent: Damon Heta

Brody Klinge - DPA #3

Brody Klinge is being tipped by many as Australia’s next breakout star. His rise has been rapid, with two ADA titles and five DPA titles to his name, six of those victories coming this season alone.

The 2024 campaign has showcased Klinge’s potential, including a career-best average of 110.51 in a DPA event, underlining his ability to hit elite levels. Now, the 26-year-old will look to translate that form onto the World Series stage in Wollongong and deliver on the hype surrounding him.

Round 1 Opponent: Stephen Bunting

Tim Pusey - DPA #4

Nickname: The Magnet

Known for his memorable nickname, Tim Pusey has shown he can produce quality darts when it matters. The 32-year-old from Perth has won seven DPA titles between 2018 and 2025, along with a PDC ADA Tour victory in Adelaide earlier this year.

Pusey has competed in four previous World Series events, Auckland and Brisbane in 2018, plus Melbourne in 2018 and 2019, producing competitive displays despite first-round exits on each occasion. With a career-high average of 102.50, he has already proven himself capable of strong performances to push these elite players.

Round 1 Opponent: Chris Dobey

Brandon Weening - DPA #5

Nickname: The Python

The 26-year-old from Geelong has been a regular presence on the Australian circuit in recent years. Since winning his first DPA title in 2022, Weening has added a further eight to his collection.

In 2024, he qualified for the WDF World Championship, winning on debut before exiting in the second round in straight sets to eventual champion Shane McGuirk. Earlier this year, he travelled to the UK to compete at Q School in an attempt to win a PDC Tour Card, falling short but showing his determination to progress in the sport.

Making his World Series debut this weekend, Weening will look to make a strong first impression in Wollongong.

Round 1 Opponent: Mike De Decker

Jonny Tata - DPNZ #1

Nickname: JT

Tata’s darts journey began at age nine, inspired by his father, Ra Tata, a former national champion. Showing early promise, Jonny won multiple national youth titles before stepping away from the sport for a few years. However, in 2020, he returned with renewed focus and quickly established himself as New Zealand’s top player.

The 32-year-old from Wainuiomata has claimed five WDF-ranked titles and secured two DPNZ titles this season in Nelson and Hamilton, cementing his position as No.1 on the DPNZ tour. Tata made a strong impression at the 2023 WDF World Championship, reaching the quarter-finals before narrowly losing to eventual champion Andy Baetens.

He also made his World Series debut in 2023 at Hamilton, stunning Peter Wright 6-3 in his opener before a tight 6-5 defeat to Rob Cross. Tata returned to the event in 2024, delivering a valiant performance but falling 6-3 to Luke Littler. With his skill and experience, he remains a genuine threat capable of causing major upsets in Wollongong.

Round 1 Opponent: Luke Humphries

Closing Thoughts

With five fresh faces in this year’s line-up, the Oceania contingent will be eager to claim their first win since 2023. Backed by a passionate Wollongong crowd, they’ll be fired up and ready to cause some major upsets as the Australian Darts Masters gets underway.