LEGENDS: EORL CRABTREE

We look at the career of a true Huddersfield Giants legend, Eorl Crabtree

By Jack Robinson

Eorl Crabtree was a one-club man, playing for only the Huddersfield Giants over his 16-year playing career in professional Rugby League. He played his first game for the Giants on April 13^th 2001, coming off the bench in a defeat against the London Broncos. He went on to play three more times for the side in his debut season.

In his playing career, the Giants reached two Challenge Cup finals, in 2006 and 2009, but unfortunately never got their hands on the trophy during Crabtree’s career. The prop forward did however win the League Leaders Shield in 2013, where he was also named in the Super league dream team, for the one and only time in his career.

Crabtree made 423 appearances for the Giants during his playing career, scoring 79 tries for the West Yorkshire outfit. The prop also featured 18 times for England throughout his playing career.

2013 will obviously be up there when it comes to Crabtree’s most successful years as part of the team, but 2005 and 2012 were his most prolific seasons for the Giants, score-wise.

Crabtree managed eight tries in 28 Betfred Super League fixtures for the Giants in 2005. He managed two tries against Warrington, he also scored in both games that season against Hull FC, as well as a try a-piece against Wakefield Trinity, Bradford Bulls, Widnes Vikings and St Helens. He went even better in 2012, scoring 11 times in 27 league games. That season he managed doubles against the London Broncos and the Salford Red Devils, as well as three tries in three games against Hull FC, including in the Elimination Playoff. Wakefield Trinity, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos and the Warrington Wolves were the other sides Crabtree scored against that season.

In 2016, at the age of 34, Crabtree decided that the time was right for him to hang up his boots and move into a different role within the club. The former prop forward now works as a club ambassador at the Giants, maintaining his relationship with the club where he spent his full professional Rugby League career.