Eorl Crabtree Q&A

The Carnegie Challenge Cup reaches its climax this month, with the semi-finals and the final taking place.

BBC Sport will be showing both semi-finals live - Warrington against Wigan on Saturday from 1400 BST on BBC One and online and Huddersfield against the holders St Helens on Sunday from 1530 BST on BBC Two and online.

Ahead of the semi-finals, we gave you the chance to put your questions to Huddersfield prop forward Eorl Crabtree.

Thanks for all your questions. Eorl answers the best below.

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What age did you start playing rugby and when did you get spotted by Huddersfield?

Matthew Bailey, Brighouse

I started playing rugby union when I was about eight or nine and also played league up at Underbank Rangers. Then I had to give up for a while because of problems with my knees. I struggled because I was big and my muscles couldn't keep up with my bones. Then I played rugby union when I was 15 at Huddersfield YMCA and I also played a couple of league games for them and then I met Brian Blacker, who was coaching the Huddersfield Academy, and asked if I could go and train with them. I signed on my 17th birthday but I was at the Academy from when I was 16.

Who is the toughest opponent you have faced in Super League and do more players try and put the 'big hit' on you because of your size?
Mike,Warrington

There are a lot of good players in my position but me and Warrington's Adrian Morley have had some good battles over the years and he is someone I respect a lot as well for what he has achieved in the game. I do think players try to target me because of my size but I am used to it and now I find it amusing.

You take a pounding when on the pitch but your ability to keep moving forward has been part of Giants' growing success these past few seasons. Despite the attention - and sometimes provocation - of some very physical opposition forwards, you always keep your cool, which is a great asset. What do you put your even temperament down to?
Peter Sephton, Sheffield

Probably the influence of my mum - it's just the way I've been brought up. Fortunately I'm quite level-headed and that has helped me to keep my cool. My friends have also helped to make me the person I am today.

Your physique would have enabled you to follow in the footsteps of your uncle (Big Daddy) as a professional wrestler. Is this something you ever considered when you were growing up?
Mike Curry, Lockerbie

I don't suit leotards so I don't think I would have managed it too well.

Did your uncle inspire you to be a professional sports star?
Lee, Bradford

Not really - it is something I always wanted to do. I used to go and watch my dad playing rugby when I was younger and I loved everything about the sport. I also used to go and watch Halifax, who my granddad played for a long time ago. Obviously it is great being related to him but it wasn't that in particular that inspired me. I probably missed him when he was in his prime but I got to watch him a couple of times. I knew all about him and what he had done.

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown has made a huge difference to the Giants

What is the best ever try and tackle you have ever done?
Daniel, London

My best try was probably the one I scored for England against New Zealand in 2005 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington when they were warming up for the Tri-Nations. I stepped past the full-back and went over under the sticks and was something I would never forget. They had a good side and we pushed them all the way before losing narrowly. Picking out a tackle is more difficult because I do so many but I'll always remember my opening tackle on my Huddersfield debut against Martin Moana at the Galpharm.

Who is the best coach you have worked under at the Giants and why?
John Smith, Los Angeles

It's hard to look beyond Nathan Brown at the moment, in case he drops me for the semi-final! But, seriously, he is a fantastic bloke and has brought my game on to the next level, which has been really good for me and was something I needed to do and things are really enjoyable at the moment.

This season has shown the Giants can be a play-off team and they are my pick for Grand Final glory. How has coach Brown improved you as a player and the team as whole?
Gareth, Wigan

Technically he is very good and knows his stuff and has tweaked a few little things and along with the assistant coach Paul Anderson, they have pushed my game along. He hasn't tried to change me but has adapted the team to work with what I do well, rather than trying to change me for the team. He is using my assets and natural ability to improve the team and it is working well at the moment.

You are having a great season yourself personally. But people say forwards hit their absolute peak at 30, so do you believe the best is yet to come from you?
Steve Fouracre, Swansea

Without a doubt. This is my best season by far and I don't think it is because I have done anything differently. I've just got older and wiser and more confident and I think over the next few years you will see a lot more from me as well. You see people like Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock, who are older than me, and they are still at the top of their game.

Huddersfield lost out to St Helens in their last Challenge Cup final appearance in 2006

Do you think the Challenge Cup is Huddersfield's best chance to win silverware this year? What would it mean to you to have the chance to win a trophy at Wembley?
Andrew, London

We are in the Cup semi-finals and we are doing really well in the Super League, so I think we have two really good chances of winning something this season. We are starting to put in some good performances but you have to play really well and that is a key factor.

The Challenge Cup will be the first thing to test us and we are really up for the semi-final against St Helens. The team we have got now is totally different to the one that reached the final in 2006 and I have learned from that occasion. To get to Wembley would be a dream come true for me and we are looking forward to giving ourselves a shot at that. We have to go out there and play to our potential and if we can do that, we have a chance.

Huddersfield are performing very well this season but the crowds are still fairly low compared to the quality of the team's performance. What more could be done to inspire the Huddersfield public?
Roger Smith, Loughborough

I think it is down to our performances and although we have been winning games, we have been winning ugly. We also haven't been happy with the way we have been playing in some of our home games. We need to start entertaining and give the fans something to shout about. It is a delicate balance between winning and entertaining but we are getting there. High-profile games are also important and I think the fact that we are in the Cup semi-finals and challenging for the play-offs will help raise the profile of the team. If the rain holds off, that would be good as well!

What does your diet consist of?
Craig, Castleford

I don't have a diet as such, I just try to eat healthily. I generally have cereal, fruit and a protein shake in the morning and for lunch I usually take something like tuna mayonnaise and avocado or a small portion of Bolognese. In the evening I generally eat vegetables and meat and maybe have some fruit afterwards. Before games I tend to eat more protein rather than carbohydrates but the night a game I have a big bowl of spaghetti Bolognese. But it is also important for me to treat myself so once a week I maybe have a couple of drinks or a bar of chocolate.

What pre-match superstitions or rituals do you have?
Eliot Scanlon-Wells, Manchester

I used to have lots of superstitions when I was younger, like putting on one boot first, but I've gotten out of that because it was affecting how I prepared. So now I just have spaghetti Bolognese the night before the game and then on the day of the game I just see what happens and I am more relaxed and comfortable playing.

Crabtree has signed an extended deal with the Giants

Are you looking forward to the Four Nations tournament? How do you think England will perform after such a disappointing World Cup?
Simon, Edinburgh

I think everyone has learned from the World Cup and what can be done to improve. It's a fresh start and hopefully I can be a part of that because I believe I can add something to the team. I'm looking forward to the Four Nations no matter what and England stand a good chance going in as underdog. Playing for the full England team against France in June was a huge honour for me. I really enjoyed myself and I felt like I contributed to it so hopefully that will help me push for a place in the squad at the end of the season.

Would you ever consider playing in the NRL or rugby union?
James, Swindon

I'd quite like to challenge myself in some sort of way so it is something to consider. I came from a rugby union background and the NRL is the top league in the world but I've signed a new deal with the Giants to keep me there until 2015, so we'll have to see what happens after that. I love the club and I'm excited at the direction it is taking and sooner rather than later we will have the team to win silverware. I want to be around when we do achieve something. I don't want to bale out at the wrong time.

AND FINALLY, THE QUESTION WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE THIS SEASON:

Which of your Huddersfield team-mates would you most and least like to be stuck on a desert island with?

I'd probably like to be stuck with Andy Raleigh because he has a degree in geography and building things. But he is injured all the time so I would have to do all the work. He is clued up so I think he could get us off the island but it would be hard work at the same time.

I would least like to be stuck with Paul Jackson because all he does is whinge and he has really fat fingers, which means he can't pick things up, and he struggles with his hand-eye co-ordination so I don't think he would be much use for anything.