Miserly Storm on verge of breaking 56-year-old Red V defensive record

With just two games left in the regular season, the Storm have a chance to better a record that has lasted since 1963, with the sum total of their 2019 losses sitting at a meagre eight points.

Melbourne's losses to the Roosters and Sea Eagles by one point each, a two-point deficit against the Sharks and their recent four-point defeat to Canberra give them a net total of a paltry eight points in their season losses.

If they were to go unbeaten in their final two games, that eight points would be the best figure by any team since the 1959 Dragons went through the NSWRL season undefeated.

The all-conquering Dragons recorded two regular-season losses by a total of 10 points in 1963, three losses by a total of 13 in 1961, and four losses by a total of 15 in 1966.

The only clubs to do better than that 1966 Dragons team in the 50 years since are Arthur Beetson's 1975 Eastern Suburbs premiership side and Geoff Toovey's 1995 Sea Eagles, who were runners-up to Canterbury on grand final day.

Each of those teams finished their respective regular seasons with just two losses for a total of 12 points.

Other clubs since the Dragons sides of the 1960s have gone through a season losing only two or three games – fewer than the four losses the Storm have suffered so far – but none have kept things as tight as the sides on this list.

It is Manly who have the best chance of spoiling Melbourne's party.

The Storm will need to win the Lottoland clash this Saturday or lose it by three or less to be the best side since the old Dragons teams in terms of net total loss points.

Of course, that all assumes their final-round match, a home game against the struggling Cowboys in round 25, does not finish in a boilover.