HE’S the Giant you wouldn’t want to face on the pitch – but Eorl Crabtree has shown a softer side.

For the Huddersfield Giants player has got some flower power and has turned to floristry in his own thyme.

He teamed up with Lynne Hodgkinson, of Stems Design to learn the art of flower arranging for a Sky Sports programme.

And Lynne scored the Giants star 10 out of 10 for his hand-tied bouquet.

She said: “I think Sky wanted to take the players out of their comfort zone and get them doing something a bit different.

“We taught Eorl how to make a hand-tied bouquet from start to finish, including wrapping it up.

“He texted me afterwards to say he’d had to convince his wife, Helen, that he’d done it – she didn’t believe him.

“He was very good. He picked it up quickly and at the end you couldn’t tell which one he’d done from the others.

“I think he enjoyed it. There was a lot of bravado and he said he was surprised at how much he had to concentrate, but he did really well.”

Lynne, who has been a florist for 24 years, has a team of more than 20 working for her on weddings and corporate events.

The weekend after the filming she had seven weddings to prepare for, but squeezed tuition in with the rugby league ace.

Eorl, 29, was with the England squad before Saturday’s England vs the Exiles Origin Test at St Helens which England won 18-10.

It was the first time the Giants prop has started a senior England game.

The second and final game of the series against the Exiles will be at the Galpharm Stadium on July 4.

Lynne said: “Some of the world’s top florists are men, but it’s not thought of as a man’s job.

“We all had a great time. There was a bit of banter and I’d give him 10 out of 10 for his effort.”

Eorl was working with a mix of English roses, mint, herbs, stocks and hydrangea.

Mark Flynn, a professional photographer based in Kirkheaton who captured the scenes, said: “Eorl was a bit doubtful at first but Lynne soon whipped him into shape, finally producing a superb flower bouquet.

“I think he secretly had fun doing it as well.”