The Rhinos ground out a tense win in a match of largely uncompromising defence in front of a bumper crowd of 33,204 at Elland Road to become the seventh Super League winners in the last nine clashes of the champions.
With both sides scoring a first-half try on a squally night, the difference was provided by Leeds captain and man of the match Kevin Sinfield with three goals and a drop goal but it was very much a team effort.
The triumph also maintained Brian McClennan's 100% record as Leeds coach on what must surely be his favourite ground, the venue for New Zealand's 24-0 Tri-Nations win over Australia in 2005.
The Rhinos played most of the game without the influential Danny McGuire, who suffered a serious-looking shoulder injury, and also lost centre Clinton Toopi with a dislocated shoulder, but it was a night made for mud-wrestlers rather than fleet-footed athletes.
It was all in sharp contrast to Leeds' free-flowing 39-32 win over Canterbury Bulldogs on a fast Elland Road surface three years earlier.
Melbourne had given themselves every chance of halting Britain's impressive run in this event by arriving 10 days in advance, earlier than any of their predecessors, and they were able to field 11 members of their Grand Final-winning team.
The Australians defended heroically but lacked sharpness on attack to seriously trouble a superbly-organised home defence.
Leeds demonstrated their resolve in the early stages by bringing down the dangerous Israel Folau and veteran Matt Geyer inches short of the tryline.
They went in front courtesy of Sinfield's first penalty goal, awarded after Melbourne full-back Billy Slater passed off the ground in front of his own posts.
Melbourne's acting captain Cooper Cronk, who was at the heart of virtually every attacking move, was responsible for the breakthrough with a pinpoint pass to second rower Ryan Hoffman in the 15th minute.
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