Rhinos book Grand Final place

Captain Kevin Sinfield kicked 16 points as the Rhinos eased to an impressive victory that ensures coach Tony Smith will end his fourth and final season as he finished his first, with a Grand Final appearance.

Their trip to Old Trafford next Saturday will be their fourth but their first meeting with St Helens in a final in the Super League era.

The Warriors unforgettably overturned a 30-6 deficit to beat Bradford in their opening play-off tie and came from behind in their win at Hull last week to keep alive their dream of becoming the first team to reach the Grand Final from sixth place.

But they trailed 16-0 at half-time after being outplayed by a rampant Rhinos and only briefly threatened another comeback when Pat Richards scored and converted a try on 55 minutes.

Leeds opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a penalty from Sinfield, who maintained his record of scoring in every game this year, and went on to boss the show.

The Rhinos first unlocked the Wigan defence when Great Britain prop Jamie Peacock skipped out of Iafeta Palea'aesina's attempted tackle and full-back Brent Webb was in support to race 40 metres unchecked for his 22nd try of the season. Sinfield added the conversion and kicked a second penalty after former Leeds hooker Shane Millard was punished for a high tackle on Kylie Leuluai to make it 10-0.

Winger Scott Donald was then denied by an ankle tap from Wigan centre Phil Bailey but Leeds scored their second try four minutes before the break when substitute second rower Ali Lauitiiti capped an impressive entrance by powering his way over from short range. With memories of the Warriors' sensational fightback at Odsal still fresh in the mind, Leeds knew they could not relax.

Wigan produced a try out of nothing to give themselves hope. Danger man Trent Barrett raced onto a kick over the Rhinos defence by his half-back partner Thomas Leuluai and full-back Richards was on his inside to take the final pass. Richards, Super League's leading scorer, converted his own try to cut the deficit to 10 points as the game entered the final quarter.

But it was only a fleeting fightback, with Leeds quickly re-asserting control through the growing influence of Sinfield, who set up Burrow for the first of his brace of tries and put in a sliderule kick for Webb to claim his second and seal their place in the title decider.