Wells' New Zealand eligibility only came to light last month after the 23-year-old signed with the Central Pulse for next season. With the Ferns desperately needing to boost their depth in the shooting circle, team management invited her to attend this week's squad camp in Auckland.
She had never previously played with any of the New Zealand team, and this week was supposed to be about meeting the players and management.
But when star shooter Maria Tutaia was ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot injury, and rookie shooter Malia Paseka scratched from trials after spraining her ankle, the selectors were suddenly considering Wells for a test spot.
Yesterday Wells was preparing herself for the prospect of facing down some of her old Queensland Firebirds teammates in next month's Constellation Cup series.
"When she turned up on Monday we were just going to have a look, and if she impressed I thought maybe there might be a squad place for her, but really it was just to see where she was at going into the ANZ Championships next year," said Taumaunu.
"I had to have a good chat to her yesterday and just make sure she was okay with the speed at which everything was happening. She came here to have a look and that's all we ever said we were doing and now she is going to be wearing the black dress in about 10 days."
Taumaunu said Wells' selection was a unanimous decision by the panel, with her accuracy and impressive mobility sealing her inclusion in the team at the expense of the Magic's Ellen Halpenny.
The haste at which a player who had not commanded regular court time for her franchise team across the Tasman can waltz straight into the New Zealand test line-up is certain to cause much mirth in Australia. But Taumaunu is not in a position to be picky.
With imports occupying the shooting spots at three of the five New Zealand transtasman league franchises, and two other starting shooters this season (Irene van Dyk and Donna Wilkins) retired from international netball, the only options left were bench players. Whoever they brought into the shooting circle was going to have limited court time at ANZ Championship level, with Mes and Wells judged the best of that bunch.
For Wells, yesterday's selection fulfilled a childhood dream. Born in Queensland to a Kiwi father and Australian mother, Wells' Maori heritage played a big part in her upbringing.
That Wells could one day play for the Silver Ferns was often discussed, but it wasn't something she seriously believed was a possibility until this month.
"It kind of feels like one of those dreams you have as a kid that you never actually thought would really happen and now it's actually happened it's blown my mind," she said.
"When [Taumaunu] told me I was truly shocked, I really didn't expect it. So I just had to settle it with myself first and then I told my family and they are just over the moon."
Mes' recall to the team comes after she missed the 2013 international season with a serious knee injury. After some impressive showings for the under-performing Mystics last year, Mes was expected to force her way into the Ferns line-up in her more favoured shooting position. But the youngster was cruelly denied her opportunity when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in the Mystics' final game of the season.
It was clear that Mes had been throwing herself into everything during the week-long trials, with the athletic shooter sporting several bruises, including a black eye, after collecting the elbow of defender Jo Trip in a tussle for the rebound.
The Silver Ferns team to contest the Constellation Cup v Australian Diamonds
Casey Kopua (c), Laura Langman (vc), Jodi Brown, Leana de Bruin, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Katrina Grant, Joline Henry, Liana Leota, Cathrine Latu, Bailey Mes, Grace Rasmussen and Ameliaranne Wells.
Wider New Zealand squad members:
Kayla Cullen, Shannon Francois, Ellen Halpenny, Phoenix Karaka, Camilla Lees, Courtney Tairi and Maria Tutaia (injured).
Constellation Cup series
October 2 - Stadium Southland, Invercargill
October 8 - Hisense Arena, Melbourne
October 11 - Allphones Arena, Sydney
October 15 - Trusts Stadium, Auckland
