Hapless Huddersfield Giants suffered their most embarrassing defeat of the season as they were totally outclassed by struggling Salford Red Devils and left picking up the pieces of a demoralising 36-10 home loss.
It was a performance which made a mockery of the fact coach Paul Anderson's men were seeking an 10th win from their previous 11 Super League games.
On this form they looked more like a side who had lost 10 from 11 as they were beaten in every single department by a Salford side boosted by a stunning debut by New Zealand test full-back Kevin Locke.
Even the second-half dismissal of prop Lama Tasi for a late challenge on Danny Brough failed to stop the rot for a Huddersfield side who in truth could have been on the end of an even heavier defeat.
The signs this could be a far from straightforward afternoon were clear from the start as a second-minute Scott Grix 40-20 kick failed
to be awarded by the match officials.
The tone for a frustrating opening 40 minutes - and beyond - had been set.
With the Giants once again failing to respect possession and proving their own worst enemy, they deservedly trailed 12-4 at the break.
By the 11th minute, the visitors hit the front when Mason Caton-Brown broke from deep to create the position for Rangi Chase to stroll over unopposed, with new signing Kevin Locke landing a simple conversion.
To make matters worse for the hosts, Grix hobbled off in the wake of the score, meaning Leroy Cudjoe was switched to full-back and Michael Lawrence moved out into the centres.
And while Cudjoe was adjusting to playing in his new role, he spilt a high bomb which gave Salford the position to craft a second converted try for Matty Ashurst to make it 12-0.
Joe Wardle finally breathed life into the Giants by crashing over midway through the half after good work from Danny Brough and Brett Ferres.
But the frustration continued as Brough failed to add the extras.
That miss seemed to spur on the Red Devils, who were desperately unlucky not to add to their tally on three occasions.
First, Cudjoe tracked back magnificently to deny Locke a long-range try before Josh Griffin knocked-on in his bid to score and Mason
Caton-Brown spilt the ball with the tryline wide open.
An incident which left Eorl Crabtree writhing in agony at the start of the second half was placed on report by referee Robert Hicks, and that initially put extra fire into the Giants' bellies.
But with more chances failing to be taken, Salford made them pay 10 minutes after the restart when a poor Brough kick was pouched with ease by Josh Griffin to feed Caton-Brown to race 70m for converted try No3.
Midway through the half Junior Sa'u wasted another golden opportunity for the Red Devils, who could have been out of sight had they taken all their chances.
The home side were then handed another potential lifeline moments later when prop Lama Tasi was sent off for a late challenge on Brough, although the ferocity of the contact meant the Giants captain was forced off the field as a result.
And, as it worked out, the loss of Brough proved the more significant factor.
With Huddersfield still re-adjusting to the loss off their playmaker, Theo Fages danced over for his side's fourth try in the 63rd minute and Greg Johnson followed up two minutes later for a fifth converted score to make it 30-4.
Even worse followed with 11 minutes remaining when Locke crowned his debut with a stunning individual try, racing in from halfway.
Larne Patrick did put the briefest of smiles back on the suffering Giants faithful by strolling over in the 72nd minute for a try converted by Cudjoe.
But it couldn't disguise the fact this was an awful day's work.
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