Missing six members of last season's Grand Final-winning team through injury, the Rhinos side which hammered Bradford Bulls 40-26 at Millennium Magic included a debutant, a 17-year-old making his first Super League start and two forwards who hadn't made a senior appearance for Leeds before this season.

At the start of the campaign, it would have been hard to imagine the likes of Kallum Watkins, Eric Anselme and Simon Worrall playing for Rhinos in this sort of occasion against opposition of Bulls' quality, but they didn't just hold their own, they made a significant contribution.

The teenager, Watkins, is already beginning to make a name for himself.

He scored Rhinos' opening try, cutting through off Danny McGuire's pass after Kevin Sinfield and Kylie Leuluai had combined well close to Bradford's line.

But more impressive was the way he tore Bulls apart down their right flank just 45 seconds into the second half, dashing clear from Brent Webb's pass and keeping his cool to return the ball to the full-back, whose pass put Anselme over.

Rhinos' decision to bring Anselme in on loan from Albi left some Leeds fans distinctly underwhelmed, but the French Test back-rower made a big impact and looked very much at home in Super League.

His try kick-started Rhinos' second-half rampage and he could have created another if McGuire had not dropped his pass with the line open.

Former Leeds Tykes flanker Worrall has only been playing rugby league for 14 months, but – after a loan spell at Doncaster last year – he has taken to Super League like a duck to water.

It was his break, from a wonderful McGuire pass, which carved out Rhinos' third try for veteran centre Keith Senior.

Bulls were much closer to their first-choice line-up, though ironically their limited number of injuries took a higher toll.

They badly missed Joe Vagana's power up front and the pace of half-back Ben Jeffries.

Leeds were on top for most of the game, exerting more pressure and creating better chances in the first half, despite trailing 10-6 at the break.

Four tries in 14 minutes at the start of the second period turned the game on its head.

Bulls did manage to get themselves back in the game, cutting the gap to eight points with 13 minutes left, but then an unnecessary David Solomona pass was intercepted by Ryan Hall and it was game over.

One battle Rhinos have lost this season is the fight to prevent full-back Webb playing for New Zealand in this weekend's centenary Test against Australia.

It's easy to see why Leeds didn't want him to go. Webb is in the best form of his British career, his long passing was excellent and he created two tries as well as crossing himself.

Webb's out of contract at the end of this season and attracting interest from other clubs.

A new deal should be high on Leeds' priority list.

This wasn't Rhinos' most fluent performance, they again dropped too much ball, but when they turned it on they were devastating.

In their second half purple patch they were wonderful to watch, their thrilling broken-field running and wonderful support play leaving Bulls chasing shadows, particularly when they attacked Bradford on the edges.

Skipper Sinfield, who kicked six goals from seven attempts, was a controlling influence for Leeds, Matt Diskin had another big game around the ruck and the pace of halves McGuire and Rob Burrow caused Bulls all manner of problems.

This was a big win for Leeds, who are now eight points clear of Bulls and have scored 40 or more points against the old enemy in both clashes this season.

Bradford would have expected to win against such an inexperienced Leeds line-up, but too many of their senior players didn't stand up, though Glenn Morrison battled hard and Shontayne Hape was a threat.

Bulls squandered a good start, Semi Tadulala crossing for an unconverted try from Solomona's pass after just seven minutes.

Following Watkins' try, three Paul Deacon penalties gave Bulls their interval advantage, but Leeds won the game in the third quarter.

After the tries by Anselme and Senior, Webb's long pass sent Scott Donald over, then Webb scored off a one-two with Donald to complete a sweeping move begun by Burrow.

Tries by Semi Tadulala – from Solomona's kick – and a dubious effort by Hape, plus a Deacon conversion, hinted at a comeback, but Hall's try ended that.

Leuluai crashed over from Sinfield's pass – which looked forward – though Bulls completed the scoring when Sam Burgess touched down a kick by Deacon, who also converted.

With Rhinos in this sort of form, the rest of Super League won't relish facing them when their five injured Test players do come back.

BRADFORD: Halley, Evans, Sykes, Hape, Tadulala, Harris, Deacon, Lynch, Newton, Burgess, Solomona, Langley, Morrison. Replacements: Tupou, Finnigan, Godwin, Nero.

LEEDS: Webb, Hall, Watkins, Senior, Donald, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Scruton, Ablett, Peacock, Sinfield. Replacements: Tansey, Burgess, Worrall, Anselme.

REFEREE: R Silverwood (Dewsbury)