Rhinos face Giants to discover who keeps the Yorkshire flag flying

They eased to a 42-10 victory over Hull FC yesterday, the third of the weekend’s opening four play-offs to end in worryingly one-sided scorelines.

Huddersfield got a second chance after Friday’s embarrassing 47-0 loss at minor champions Warrington Wolves but Hull KR’s season – and Justin Morgan’s tenure as head coach – was ended with a similarly abject 56-6 defeat against Catalan Dragons the following night.

Such emphatic routs in the supposed end-of-season ‘finale’ raises questions once more about the quality of the competition, and, more pertinently, the decision to include eight clubs in the play-offs.

With Hull’s meek exit as well, it meant there was only one play-off of genuine note, yesterday’s thrilling 26-18 win for St Helens at champions Wigan Warriors.

That means the Merseysiders join Warrington within 80 minutes of Old Trafford and having earned a weekend off but also sees Wigan, who finished second, a place above Saints, lose home advantage if they do prosper.

The Challenge Cup holders must do it the hard way once more if they are to win back-to-back Grand Finals; 12 months ago Wigan recovered from a home defeat by Leeds to go on to triumph in Manchester. They face Catalan – who have already defeated them twice this season – at DW Stadium in the other sudden-death tie on Sunday evening (5pm).

After that game, Warrington will choose who they play in the semi-finals courtesy of the controversial Club Call system.

Coach Tony Smith will decide between the victors of Wigan and Catalan or Leeds and Huddersfield which offers up some intriguing prospects.

Leeds, despite finishing fifth, have now won eight of their last 10 games to suggest they could be one of the most dangerous potential opponents.

Head coach Brian McDermott was delighted with their all-round game against vanquished Hull.

“We came up with some sensational patches,” he said. “We were brilliant on some occasions. Hull were always going to have a dig. We noted that and made sure our attitude was correct. There was a big moment in the first half where they came at us and we pretty much resisted everything.”

As well as their resolute defence, Leeds displayed some wonderful passing movements but McDer mott insisted: “The reason why we’re in form is not because of flick passes or chip kicks but the hard work and willingness to get our hands dirty.”

Leeds won at fourth-placed Huddersfield only last weekend to further increase confidence in the Headingley ranks.

Huddersdfield’s England prop Eorl Crabtree admitted they were “absolutely devastated” following their defeat to Warrington but, having watched Leeds’ ease past Hull, believes they will be better for the experience.

“It’s given us motivation and determination to do better,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“We know we have to. When we went 18-0 down at Warrington, after not re-acting well to the peppering the ref gave us on penalties, our heads just went.

“I don’t think we believed in ourselves and we kept making mistakes. Leeds have hit a good bit of form and are playing very well, with a lot more confidence and are looking very comfortable in defence as much as attack.”

Meanwhile, Hull FC coach Richard Agar was left dejected after what became his last game in charge for the East Yorkshire club.

His four-year reign is now at an end – he moves to Wakefield Trinity in 2012 – and he admitted: “It was certainly no fairytale finish.

“It was probably the worst we’ve played for a long, long time.

“We were beaten in every facet. A lot of things we practiced went out of the window and our big-game players needed to play well but were nowhere near the mark.

“We tried to put plays on from the wrong areas, the timing was poor and our kicking game let us down badly.

“It was a surprise how we played. It’s very rare we’ve gone into the last 10 minutes of a game and not been challenging so it was a disappointing way to finish.”