Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins continued his prolific scoring run for the Super League leaders as champions Leeds were forced to surrender the only 100% Magic Weekend record.
The England star opened the scoring with his 25th try in his last 11 matches to put the Warriors on their way to an 11th consecutive win that keeps their double dream firmly alive.
Yet they were pushed all the way by the last team to defeat them back in March and were grateful for video referee Ian Smith's decision to disallow a Danny McGuire try eight minutes from the end of a high-quality contest.
Certainly the 31,249 crowd, which took the two-day total at Manchester's Etihad Stadium to 62,042, was richly entertained by a clash of the titans that lived up to its billing as the match of the weekend.
Leeds went into the game with six wins from their previous six Magic Weekend contests and one of only two teams to defeat Wigan this year, but a third successive defeat leaves them with still much to do if they are to retain their crown.
However, the Rhinos, who gave a full debut to 18-year-old back-row forward Liam Sutcliffe in place of the injured Brett Delaney, matched their opponents' try tally and could feel proud of their efforts.
It took Tomkins just seven minutes to extend his remarkable run, taking Iain Thornley's pass out of a two-man tackle to touch down and Pat Richards kicked the first of his four goals.
Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield got his side on the scoreboard with a penalty after he had been tackled late by Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum and he put them in front on 19 minutes when he converted his own try.
The England captain got full-back Zak Hardaker running into space and was on hand to take a return pass to touch down.
The Warriors edged back in front four minutes later when they surprised the Rhinos by running the ball on the last tackle and Tomkins got Richards over at the corner for his 13th try of the season.
The winger converted his own try and kicked two penalties to keep his side in front, but Leeds were in no mood to roll over and they got the score back to within two points with a brilliantly-taken try by England centre Kallum Watkins.
Rob Burrow's trademark mazy run pulled the Wigan defence out of position but there seemed no way for Watkins to reach the line until he somehow swung his right arm over to plant the ball on the line before being pushed into touch.
The crucial score came on the stroke of half-time when Wigan scrum-half Matty Smith, making his return from a two-match injury absence, gathered Sinfield's kick and his quick-thinking got winger Josh Charnley racing away for a third try.
The Leeds defence was severely tested at the start of the second half, with winger Joe Vickery getting a hand to the ball to prevent Richards scoring another try and Wigan half-back Sam Powell denied a score by an obstruction of Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
However, the champions not came through it unscathed, they worked their way to the other end of the field, where sublime handling by Hardaker and Watkins got Vickery over for his first try for the club on his ninth appearance.
Sinfield was off target for the second time, but Burrow kept Leeds in contention with a try-saving tackle on Charnley and the champions thought they had earned at least a share of the spoils when centre Joel Moon broke clear to send Danny McGuire over.
However, fourth official Smith ruled that Chris Clarkson had blocked a Wigan defender at the start of the move and ruled out the score.