At Belle Vue in February, Rhinos had played some sparkling rugby to lead 38-0 at the break, before easing off in the second half and eventually winning 44-8.

The first half of the Headingley Carnegie rematch was similar story as Leeds powered into a 36-6 interval lead – but this time they kept the hammer down.

Leeds' 58-12 triumph was their biggest Super League win since September 2006 and Wakefield's worst defeat in 13 months.

The visitors made a game of it for almost half an hour, trailing only 12-6 after 28 minutes, but four tries towards the end of the first half put Leeds in total command.

Wildcats never gave up trying, but a Rhinos team playing at the top of their game were simply too good.

When they hit their stride, as they did in the lead-up to half-time, the champions were unstoppable. Wakefield didn't actually play badly, Leeds just didn't give them chance to play at all.

Rhinos operated at a high tempo from the start – remarkable considering the punishing game they'd had at Harlequins just five days earlier – and the speed of some of their passing was astonishing.

The rampage was led by stand-off Danny McGuire, who scored his second hat-trick inside a week and was involved in three more of Leeds' 10 tries.

The six minutes before half-time wasn't so much a purple patch for Rhinos as a golden one, yielding three sensational tries – including back-to-back scores.

On 34 minutes brilliant, quick handling by Carl Ablett, Ryan Hall, Gareth Ellis and Brent Webb sent Danny McGuire over for his second try of the game.

Keith Senior caught the re-start 20 metres from his own line and ran straight through Tony Martin. The centre put Rob Burrow away, he moved the ball on to Scott Donald and his inside pass was finished by Simon Worrall, the former Leeds Tykes flanker who is rapidly proving to be one of the finds of the season.

Then on the stroke of half-time, Matt Diskin and McGuire ran the ball on the last. Burrow dashed clear and was nailed by a superb Richard Moore tackle, but somehow got an offload away to send Senior between the posts.

It had been 6-6 just 12 minutes before the interval. McGuire scored the opening try after just 101 seconds, sending Ablett bursting away and then supporting to take the return pass.

Sinfield's conversion – the first of his seven goals from eight attempts, the other hitting a post – saw him equal Andy Farrell's competition record of scoring in 48 successive Super League rounds.

Wakefield had a try disallowed – Danny Sculthorpe's pass to Damien Blanch being ruled forward – before Sam Obst shot over from Jamie Rooney's clever pass, Brough adding the extras on 19 minutes.

Leeds regained the lead four minutes later, Eric Anselme, making his home debut and his first start, spinning out of Rooney's tackle from McGuire's pass.

The French Test back-rower has now scored on both his appearances for Leeds and is handling the step up from the French domestic competition into Super League in impressive style.

On 28 minutes dazzling handling by Diskin, Sinfield, McGuire, Ellis and Webb ended with Burrow going over for the home side's third try.

After handling in the build-up to McGuire's first two tries, Ablett's fine performance was rewarded 13 minutes after the interval when he crossed from Ellis' pass after good work by Kylie Leuluai.

Nine minutes later, Hall collected a drop out and supplied Sinfield, whose pass was finished by McGuire for his second hat-trick inside a week.

Wakefield got some consolation 13 minutes from time when Brough touched down Brad Drew's grubber and then tagged on the extras.

But Leeds finished strongly as Diskin went over following a one-two with the outstanding Leuluai and then provided the final pass for Senior to complete his brace, the last two tries being converted by Burrow.

Wakefield had spells of pressure, but their pack were on the back foot for most of the game and they had no answer to the speed of Leeds' backline.

Wildcats had gone into the game as the form side, on a six-match winning run in all competitions.

But it's doubtful any team could live with Rhinos in this sort of mood and playing as they are, Rhinos look capable of winning everything this year.

Certainly, when they are at their best – like this – they are a class apart. Unless they suffer a sustained form slump, the second half of the season could become a one-horse race.