Handing the defending champions a double-digit defeat on their home court - where the Wildcats lost only once during the last campaign - was the first step in digging out of that hole. The second comes tonight at Vector Arena.
But Vukona knows the Breakers face a long road before they can fully mend the damage of the previous campaign. "Nah, not at all," he replied when asked whether the Perth win was a statement to the rest of the league.
"One win's not going to do that.
"We made them pay attention a little bit but you've got to go through the whole season just to get respect. Some coaches were probably thinking it was just a one-hit wonder and that's something for us to prove."
The Breakers begin that process at 7.40pm in downtown Auckland, when they will attempt to show their efforts in Western Australia were less aberration and more reanimation.
Improving to 2-0 with a handy win will help, an objective that could be harmed by the pre-game pomp surrounding the retirement of CJ Bruton's singlet. As Perth found out last weekend, having a full house fizzing as past glories are celebrated can be detrimental to present success. The Breakers have experienced mixed results after such ceremonies but Vukona was confident that wouldn't be a concern tonight.
"The guys are in a better mind frame," he said. "They're going to go out there and honour CJ and that moment but we've been focusing on Adelaide and we don't want a repeat of what happened to Perth."
The words of Bruton will surely have a positive impact on his former team. Always a vocal leader during his three championship campaigns at the club, Bruton gave one pep talk at yesterday's practice and another is planned before the game.
"It was really good to get him back in there," Vukona said. "He had some great words to say after training."
