The relentless juggernaut rolls on at an increasingly unstoppable pace. It has been fantastic for Super League to have two new forces in Hull KR and Leigh emerge as genuine title contenders: but one of them would have to produce the performance of their lives to stop the inevitable.

The Leopards had no answer for the might of Wigan Warriors here, meaning that it is now on the Robins at Old Trafford next Saturday to stop what appears to be a canter towards back-to-back Super League titles and the completion of an historic Grand Slam, the likes of which has barely been seen before.

Leigh, armed with a travelling support of more 5,000 and looking for their first Super League Grand Final appearance, travelled across the borough as the competition’s form team. Ninth as recently as July, Leigh have won 12 of their past 14 games to move close to their own historic feat. But while the playoffs have been staggeringly unpredictable, this contest had an air of inevitability about it.

Leading 18-0 at half-time thanks to two tries from Liam Marshall and another from Sam Walters, everything that happened from that point on was immaterial. The damage had been done, few sides – if any – in the world could claw that back against this Warriors side.

They are one win away from an incredible piece of rugby league history. In the sport’s 129 years, five teams have won four major trophies in one season: Hunslet in 1908, Huddersfield in 1915, Swinton in 1928, St Helens in 1966 and Wigan in 1994. It has never been done in the Super League era.

But Wigan are now overwhelming favourites to complete a Grand Slam by winning the World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, League Leader’s Shield and Grand Final in the same season. It is an astonishing feat that underlines how they are the game’s dominant force. Leigh fought gamely but they had nothing in terms of an answer to what Wigan threw at them.

Wigan were in complete control from the outset and took the lead early on when Jai Field’s wonderful pass sent Marshall over for a simple finish. The Warriors then doubled that lead midway through the half when Walters punched a hole in the defence. With the Leopards unable to make anything stick at the other end, the tie was spiralling away from them.

The game’s decisive moment came just before half-time. Leigh were arguably fortunate to be only 12 points behind at that stage but when Marshall crossed for his second after another imperious assist from Field sent the winger over for a walk-in and with Adam Keighran converting from the touchline, matters felt decided already.

If they were not, they were two minutes after the restart when Walters coasted through a huge gap in the defence for his second. Bevan French then produced a world-class solo try to put the gloss on a night that had long since delivered.

Not to be shown up, Field then delivered one of his own with two minutes remaining, dancing around an already beaten Leigh defence.

Can anyone stop Wigan in the pursuit of even more greatness? There is now only one team left standing who can provide an answer to that question.