Harry Smith delivered another priceless performance as resurgent Wigan served notice of their Betfred Super League title intentions with a dominant 24-4 win over Leeds at the Brick Community Stadium.
The hosts' recent run of four defeats of the bounce proved an increasingly distant memory as Smith played a part in three of his side's four tries with Adam Keighran contributing one of them, plus eight points with the boot.
Following hot on the heels of Saturday's thumping Challenge Cup win over St Helens, Wigan have now hammered the two teams at the top of the standings in the last seven days and Smith has been integral to their dramatic revival.
The scrum-half had missed two of those four losses through injury, and emphasised his importance to Matt Peet's side from the start as Wigan withstood a brief spell of Rhinos pressure to seize control of the evening with just seven minutes gone.
Smith's kick on the last was flapped on by Keighran to send Jack Farrimond over in the corner and immediately put Leeds, looking for a win that would have taken them back to the top of the table, on the back foot.
The hosts had a grip they would never let loose. Zach Eckersley was denied by a timely shove from Maika Sivo, but Leeds were their own worst enemy in the 22nd minute when Jake Connor's intercepted pass sent Keighran blazing upfield.
The centre was hauled down by the chasing Ash Handley, but still managed to shepherd the loose ball over the line and ensure the home side doubled their lead.
Leeds responded with their best spell of the match and could count themselves unfortunate when Harry Newman dropped the ball over the line, with TV replays suggesting it moved backwards and could have been grounded by Ryan Hall.
Wigan duly punished the visitors on the half-hour mark when Smith punished Danny Levi for a mistake deep in the visitors' half, floating a pass out for Noah Hodkinson to go over in the corner and make it 16-0 at the break.
Keighran kicked a penalty to shunt Wigan further clear early in the second half, and when Jake Wardle burrowed over following another Smith kick, it all but put the seal on another mightily impressive win for the home side with almost half an hour still left on the clock.
Maika Sivo's 18th try of the Super League season, coming amid a stirring response from the Rhinos, at least ensured Brad Arthur's men would avoid the indignity of becoming Wigan's second straight victims to fall to a shut-out defeat.
Caius Faatili starred as Wakefield got back to winning ways to move up to fourth, hitting back from an early deficit to rout Catalans Dragons 58-10.
Trailing 10-0 after 11 minutes at the DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield hit back to level at half-time before a nine-try blitz after the interval, with replacement prop Faatili bagging a hat-trick.
Beaten by St Helens and Leeds in their last two outings, Wakefield made a poor start as Charlie Staines touched down on the left, converted by Toby Sexton, who then dotted down before hitting the post with his kick.
Trinity grew into the game and got on the board after 26 minutes when Caleb Hamlin-Uele barged over from close range, while Will Tate levelled on the stroke of half-time in the left corner.
Faatili then put Wakefield ahead for the first time in the contest shortly after the resumption then provided the offload which set free Tyson Smoothy, who then teed up Jay Pitts to score in the 48th minute.
Jake Trueman's floated pass got Jayden Myers in soon after for another try while Faatili struck twice either side of the hour, first twisting through a Catalans gap to touch down and then bagging his treble after getting to Trueman's grubber.
The onslaught continued into the final quarter as Jazz Tevaga touched down from Mason Lino's incisive pass, while Oliver Pratt, who was denied a try in the first half, finally got on the scoreboard with nine minutes left.
Trueman scored late on and there was still time for Tate to touch down again for Wakefield's ninth try of the half and 11th of the match, with Lino making seven conversions.
Friday May 15
Wigan Warriors 24-4 Leeds Rhinos
Wakefield Trinity 58-10 Catalans Dragons
Saturday May 16
3pm: York Knights v Castleford Tigers
5.30pm: Leigh Leopards v Hull KR
6pm: Toulouse Olympique v Warrington Wolves
Sunday May 17
3pm: Bradford Bulls v Hull FC
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