Substitute Jordan Tansey grabbed a hat-trick as reigning champions Leeds clinched a top-two finish in the engage Super League with a 54-12 rout of bottom club Castleford in their final home game of the regular season.
The Rhinos had eight different try scorers as they turned on the style to draw level with leaders St Helens, who visit Harlequins on Sunday, while the outclassed Tigers look certain to collect the wooden spoon after conceding a half-century of points for the fifth time this year.
The final touches to a one-sided match were applied by England second rower Gareth Ellis, who rounded off what could have been his final appearance at Headingley with a last-minute conversion of Tansey's third try.
Wigan survived the first-half sending-off of Richard Mathers to clinch a play-off place with a backs-to-the-wall 32-22 victory over Wakefield at the JJB Stadium.
The former Leeds full-back was given his second red card of the campaign two minutes before the break by referee Ben Thaler for leading with an elbow as he attempted to fend off Wildcats back rower Jason Demetriou, which tarnished an otherwise solid half for the Warriors.
Tries from Tim Smith, Thomas Leuluai and Cameron Phelps had opened up a 16-4 home lead after two Danny Brough penalties edged the visitors ahead early on, but it was pure grit and determination that ensured the Warriors stayed ahead in a tense second 40 minutes.
Wakefield hit back through Danny Sculthorpe, Duncan MacGillivray and Oliver Wilkes, but Mickey Higham and a late effort from Joel Tomkins sealed the points for Brian Noble's men.
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