Leeds Rhinos 52 Huddersfield Giants 0: Jim Lenihan handed brutal glimpse of mammoth challenge
The grim reality of Huddersfield Giants' situation was laid bare at Headingley in front of new head coach Jim Lenihan.
The Australian spent his first few days at the helm stressing the importance of identity, mindset and long-term thinking – foundations that cannot be established in a matter of days.
Leeds Rhinos brutally underlined that reality in an embarrassingly one-sided West Yorkshire derby.
Five weeks on from a thumping 56-22 victory at the Accu Stadium, Leeds posted another half-century against the hapless Giants.
Lenihan's biggest challenge is to prove Huddersfield are worthy of a place in Super League after another sorry night for the competition's basement side.
While the issue of low attendances is out of his hands, Lenihan must find a way to rally the Giants on the field and offer hope for the future.
It was the perfect fixture for the Rhinos following a sobering defeat at Wigan Warriors.
Brad Arthur's men ran in nine tries to pile more misery on their rivals and strengthen their position at the top of Super League in the process.
Not for the first time this season, Leeds showed their ruthless side against wounded prey.
Lenihan's presence did nothing to shake the Giants out of their early game slumber.
Slow starts have been a feature of Huddersfield's losing run and they were beaten to the punch once again at Headingley.
Leeds needed just six minutes to break the deadlock through an unlikely source.
Mikolaj Oledzki's wait for a 2026 try ended when he stayed alive to ghost over from Brodie Croft's pass with Huddersfield all at sea.
Harry Newman's late offload caused chaos for the opener and he was on hand to score the second with a swan dive after Croft and Super League debutant Fergus McCormack had combined to send James McDonnell into space.
Huddersfield's moments of quality were fleeting, Tui Lolohea's 40/20 soon fading into the gloom of another concession.
Croft did not give up on Jake Connor's speculative kick and his extra effort was rewarded handsomely when Ryan Hall finished his patback just before the dead-ball line.
On a night when he was in the spotlight following his decision to leave Leeds for Warrington Wolves, Croft stood up the the plate.
The Australian half-back denied Connor Carr with a last-ditch effort at one end before scoring at the other after Cooper Jenkins had romped into open field from Cameron Smith's classy pass.
Not for the first time this season, Huddersfield were in damage limitation mode at the break.
They could only hold firm for nine minutes at the start of the second half, Maika Sivo scoring his 21st try of the season from Connor's deft kick.
Newman ran a good line to complete his double from Croft's pass before McDonnell forced his way over in heavy traffic.
Oledzki sauntered in from Connor's no-look pass for his first career brace and Chris Hankinson landed the final blow when he coasted over from a McCormack assist.
Leeds Rhinos: F McCormack, Hall, Newman, Handley, Sivo, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, O'Connor, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Smith. Substitutes: Palasia, Levi, Watkins, Cassell.
Tries: Oledzki (6, 72), Newman (8, 58), Hall (25), Croft (29), Sivo (49), McDonnell (65), Hankinson (78).
Goals: Connor 8/9.
Huddersfield Giants: Evalds, Carr, Gagai, Jagger, Kershaw, Lolohea, Russell, Patolo, Woolford, Rogers, Rushton, Hewitt. Powell. Substitutes: English, Greenwood, Cozza, Geyer.
Referee: Jack Smith.