Trio score 9/10 in Peter Smith's Leeds Rhinos player ratings from 56-22 win at Huddersfield Giants

Leeds made the worst possible start, going six points behind before they’d had possession of the ball, but produced a superb attacking display after that, running in 10 tries and having a couple ruled out.

Croft and Jake Connor ran the show and there were notable contributions by starting prop Tom Holroyd and second-row James McDonnell in what was a very good win against in-form opposition. Leeds are making a habit of ending 100 per cent records; having been the first side to beat Warrington Wolves this year and to defeat Bradford Bulls at Odsal, Friday’s result ended Giants’ two-game hot streak under acting-coach Liam Finn.

Giants scored some well-taken tries, though Leeds’ defence could have been better, but they missed a huge number of tackles and Rhinos took full advantage. Their night, however, began badly.

Lachie Miller sent the kick-off out on the full, which he does too often, the resulting penalty took Giants deep into Rhinos territory and George King crashed between the posts for a soft try which Tui Lolohea converted. Remarkably, that penalty was the only one Leeds received. The count finished five-one, but set-restarts were the exact opposite.

After that early shock it was all about Rhinos’ response, which was top-notch. They were in front by the 11th minute. First, Miller made a break and Croft sliced over from Connor’s smart pass on the final tackle of a set which began near the visitors’ line. Lolohea booted the restart on the full and Rhinos copied what Giants had done earlier as Jarrod O’Connor plunged over from acting-half.

Full credit to Holroyd who skittled a gaggle of defenders on a powerful run to the line and then - having created a hole in the defence - played the ball quickly to the hooker. Connor improved both touchdowns to make it 12-6. The ex-Giants man finished with eight goals, one of his two misses hitting a post.

On 16 minutes Maika Sivo pounced on a Giants error and charged towards the line; he was pulled down just short, but Leeds moved the ball right and McDonnell slipped out a wonderful backhand pass which Jack Bird took to score his third try in as man starts.

Leeds went further in front on 25 minutes with a memorable try, Ryan Hall’s 250th try for Rhinos. He won’t have scored many like his, taking the ball at first-receiver from a scrum 20 metres out and holding off a posse of defenders to touch down.

Five minutes later Miller chipped over the defence to the in-goal and ran through to score a superb solo effort. Leeds got over the line five minutes before the interval, but Connor’s pass to Cameron Smith was ruled forward.

Giants pulled four points back on the final play of the half when Jacob Douglas dived over at the corner after a mix-up between Miller and Chris Hankinson gifted possession to the hosts. That made it 28-10 at the interval, but Rhinos quickly ensured there would be no home fightback when Smith went over three minutes into the second half. That was followed quickly by Croft’s second, after a Connor 40-20 and the stand-off’s third when Giants failed to deal with a kick over the line by his half-back partner.

Kallum Watkins had a touchdown ruled out for a knock-on by Ash Handley and Jacob Gagai pulled some points back with a long-range effort which Oliver Russell improved. Handley had a strong game and could probably have capped it with a try, but opted to send Sivo over for his 13th of the Betfred Super League season, in seven games. Croft - who has played the same number - is now only three behind, having completed his four-try haul when he stepped inside with 11 minutes left.

Leeds took their foot off the gas and Russell scored a consolation for Giants with two minutes remaing, which he also converted, then the hosts had a try ruled out on video evidence after the final hooter.

Huddersfield Giants: Evalds, Douglas, Gagai, Halsall, Swift, Lolohea, Clune, King, Woolford, Rogers, O’Donnell, Patolo, Powell. Subs Milne, Burgess, Cozza, Russell.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Sivo, Handley, Bird, Hall, Croft, Connor, Holroyd, O’Connor, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Palasia. Subs Watkins, C Smith, Oledzki, Levi.

Referee: Jack Smith (Wigan).