Main man scores 9/10 in Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from 52-0 rout of Huddersfield Giants

The day after his move to Warrington Wolves next season was confirmed, Croft was booed by a section of fans when he came out for the warm-up. Thirty minutes into the match they were singing his name - and jeering Warrington - after he had set up three tries, denied Giants one and touched down himself.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes after players and officials were stuck in motorway traffic, but Leeds were quickly into their stride, leading 12-0 inside 10 minutes and the result was never in any doubt.

The clean sheet was pleasing, it was a good response to the defeat at Wigan Warriors seven days earlier, but - it has to be said - Giants, in their first game under new coach Jim Lenihan, were dire. Leeds kept the ball alive in spectacular fashion for the opening try, after six minutes.

Harry Newman contributed a terrific offload and Mikolaj Oledzki ran a nice line on to a pass from Croft, who handled twice in the move. In the set from the restart, Cameron Smith made a clean break and on the next play Croft turned the ball inside to rookie full-back Fergus McCormack, he supplied James McDonnell and Newman was there to dive over for the first of a brace against his hometown club.

In the 26th minute Croft knocked back a kick by Connor behind Giants’ line and Ryan Hall touched down. Referee Jack Smith said no try, but replays showed Croft had - remarkably - managed to release the ball before stepping on the whitewash. Video official Aaron Moore gave the green light.

Three minutes later Giants left-winger Connor Carr looked a certain scorer at the corner, but Croft barged him into touch. In the next set Smith’s pass sent the impressive Cooper Jenkins into space and Croft was in support to score. Connor converted all four and Leeds led 24-0 at the break.

Other than some yardage carries, Maika Sivo didn’t see much of the ball, but even so he took his try tally for the season to 21 when he made a nice pick up from Connor’s clever kick nine minutes into the second period. Connor missed with the conversion, but added four more goals to finish with eight from nine attempts.

Newman scored a deserved second from Croft’s pass after Kallum Watkins - who had a nice cameo off the bench - had been involved with his first touch. McDonnell, who has been very good this season without getting the credit he deserves, crashed over from close range, Oledzki returned from a long breather to grab his second try - off Connor’s pass - and then McCormack capped his first senior start by putting Chris Hankinson over in the final moments. In front of a crowd of 14,132, Rhinos received seven penalties to Giants’ three (three-one before the break) and the six-agains were three-two in their favour, all five in the second half.

Leeds Rhinos: F McCormack, Sivo, Newman, Handley, Hall, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, O’Connor, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Smith. Subs Watkins, Levi, Cassell, Palasia.

Huddersfield Giants: Evalds, Carr, Gagai, Jagger, Kershaw, Lolohea, Russell, Patolo, Woolford, Rogers, Rushton, Hewitt, Powell. Subs Cozza, Gayer, Greenwood, English.

Referee: Jack Smith (Wigan). Attendance: 14,132.

*Rhinos reserves hit back from 16-8 down at half-time to beat Castleford Tigers 28-16 in the curtain-raiser. Joe Diskin bagged a brace of tries and Marcus Qareqare, Ned McCormack, Harley Thomas and Riley Lumb also touched down. Zak LLoyd kicked two goals.

Corey Sharpe grabbed a try and two goals for Tigers and Ben Dean and James Cooke were their other scorers.