Warriors skipper Marcus North is ruing what could have been this season in the Ryobi One-Day Cup, after they finally broke through for their first win on Saturday night over Queensland.
North (93 runs from 95 deliveries) was the driving force behind the victory, combining with fellow veteran Adam Voges (62) to mount a powerful 141-run partnership at the Gabba.
While the Bulls fell just five runs short of matching Western Australia's 9-284 total, the visiting side were deserving winners.
The result hands WA their first four points of the one-day campaign, but so poor has their form been in the competition that they will finish wooden spooners regardless of the result in their last match.
Their inspirational captain, North, said the reason for their struggles this year has been two-fold.
"I think it's been a combination of playing poorly and injuries," he said.
"We haven't played the same XI in all the games."
"We've had a number of debuts and injuries certainly played a part, but so has poor cricket."
"It's just the way it goes, it's one of those season we've unfortunately had to write off."
"But before the game I told the boys we've got a lot to play for."
"Attitude is a big key for me and I wanted to see some character shown to win the last two games."
"I couldn't fault that today."
Western Australia put themselves in the box seat for their maiden triumph off the back of their terrific 50 overs with the bat.
North's flashy partnership with Voges was the highlight of the innings, with the two smashing a combined total of 18 fours and one six, setting Queensland a difficult task.
"I think you're backing that as a winning total," he said.
"But we certainly didn't walk out there after 50 overs of batting thinking this game was a formality. We knew it was going to be difficult."
"We thought that it was another great wicket here at the Gabba and batting first, we thought we needed 170-plus. We got that."
"Then we thought if we got some early wickets and put some pressure on them that would be a bonus - but Vogesy and I thought once we got a partnership going it was just a really good place to bat and score runs."
But the fact that the Bulls came so close to winning was a credit to them, and North said they 'probably deserved' to win.
"We just got lucky," he said.
"We got Reardo out and that was enough to sneak home. Reardo was just outstanding, that's the best I've ever seen him bat. That was nearly the difference."
"If we weren't lucky enough to get him out in that last over the game would have certainly been going Queensland's way."
"We know that when we come up here and play Queensland, they're a quality side and we've got a lot of respect for them."