After their long mid-season slump, Rhinos have shown signs of improvement over the last two weeks and this 52-16 rout was an emphatic return to form.

Leeds scored nine tries, eight of them converted by skipper Kevin Sinfield who was a controlling influence throughout Rhinos' biggest win at Wigan in 113 years of rivalry.

Rhinos played at a high tempo and a poor Wigan side were a distant second-best, despite going ahead in farcical circumstances after seven minutes.

Danny McGuire's cross-kick was knocked to Joel Tomkins 10 metres from the Wigan line, he scampered to halfway and fed Mark Calderwood, who cruised over unopposed.

Video referee Steve Ganson took more than four minutes trying to decide whether the kick had come off Brent Webb or Trent Barrett before, eventually and with boos ringing round the stadium, awarding the try.

Having lost their previous five meetings with Wigan, that could have been a shattering blow to Leeds.

But Rhinos retained their composure and confidence and dominated once back-to-back tries at the start of the second quarter had nosed them ahead.

A pass from Matt Diskin – who had earlier lost the ball over the Wigan line – sent Webb in to restore parity.

Then in the set from the restart McGuire, Sinfield, Gareth Ellis and Carl Ablett all handled before the ball reached McGuire, who put in a bobbling grubber kick over the Warriors line.

As Calderwood hesitated, substitute prop Luke Burgess nipped past and managed to get downward pressure for a try to celebrate his new three-year contract.

Wigan hit back when Cameron Phelps touched down from Tim Smith's cross-kick, moments after Carmont had dropped the ball over the line.

But in the next set, Tim Smith's long pass bounced off Carmont and was snapped up by Lee Smith, who dashed over from halfway.

On the stroke of half-time Leeds – realising Wigan were out on their feet – ran a penalty in front of the posts and were rewarded when Kylie Leuluai crashed over from Sinfield's pass.

At 24-10 up, Leeds were in command and three tries in 12 minutes after the break underlined their superiority.

Sinfield's second-half kick-off found touch and from the scrum Rob Burrow and McGuire worked the ball to Webb, who stepped over for a fine try.

On 49 minutes, Burrow's pass sent Keith Senior on a run, he offloaded brilliantly to Jordan Tansey and his outstanding pass was finished by Lauitiiti, who waited for Carmont to arrive before swatting him off.

Three minutes later, McGuire worked a one-two with Webb from a scrum 10 metres out, before sending Senior over to make it 42-10.

Eamon O'Carroll scored a consolation try for Warriors on the hour, converted by Phelps, but Leeds finished on a high.

With 12 minutes left Lee Smith finished superbly after a good build up involving Sinfield and Lauitiiti.