Netball: Aussie-born Wells 'blown away' by fast Ferns call-up

Ameliaranne Wells.

The haste at which the Australian-born shooter Ameliaranne Wells has been rushed into the Silver Ferns programme came as a surprise to many, but few would have been more shocked than Wells herself.

Just two weeks after the Central Pulse announced they had signed the 23-year-old Queenslander for the 2015 transtasman league season, Wells was named among 26 players to trial for a place in the Silver Ferns squad.

"I was completely blown away when I got the call asking if I wanted to make myself available, I was stumbling over my words and could barely respond," said Wells, who is eligible to represent the Ferns through her Kiwi father.

The young shooter arrives in Auckland on Sunday ahead of next week's four-day camp, after which the national selectors will name a squad of up to 18 players for the 2014-15 season. The squad will form the pool from which next month's Constellation Cup series team against Australia will be selected, and also the line-up for the World Cup in Sydney in 2015.

Wells is managing expectations, saying test selection is not on her radar for now.

"I'm more than happy just to get over there and meet everyone and learn a little bit more about the programme. I think that is a good goal for me right now - to familiarise myself with the system and prove I deserve to be there," she said. "I don't know any of the girls yet so not only is there that, but everything will be entirely new to me so there'll be a lot to take on board."

In what is symptomatic of New Zealand netball's worrying lack of depth, Wells will be one of three Australian-born players trialling for the Ferns next week, with midcourters Courtney Tairi and Jamie-Lee Price also chasing a place in the New Zealand squad. Sydney-born Tairi made her test debut for the Ferns in last year's Constellation Cup series but failed to cement her place in the midcourt and will face a battle to retain her place in the squad. Price, the daughter of rugby league legend Steve, has lived in New Zealand since she was nine.

Another player, Magic shooter Malia Paseka, was born in New Zealand but spent much of her school years in Australia before being lured back by Netball New Zealand and put in the age-group system two years ago.

But Wells' inclusion in next week's trials is notable for the fact she is yet to play for a New Zealand franchise or province, with her invitation to trial issued on the basis of a couple of limited appearances for the Queensland Firebirds over the past couple of seasons. Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu said if they didn't take a look at Wells now, they wouldn't get another opportunity to assess her before the World Cup.

What went unsaid was the Ferns are desperately lacking depth in their shooting end.

While they were badly hit by injuries during their humiliating 18-goal loss to Australia in the Commonwealth Games final, the Ferns' inability to match the Diamonds' attack end has been an issue for several seasons now. But outside incumbents Cathrine Latu, Maria Tutaia, Jodi Brown and Ellen Halpenny their options are limited.

The triallists

Jodi Brown, Leana de Bruin, Katarina Cooper, Kayla Cullen, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Shannon Francois, Katrina Grant, Ellen Halpenny, Joline Henry, Phoenix Karaka, Casey Kopua, Laura Langman, Cathrine Latu, Camilla Lees, Liana Leota, Bailey Mes, Erena Mikaere, Malia Paseka, Jamie-Lee Price, Grace Rasmussen, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Courtney Tairi, Anna Thompson, Jo Trip, Maria Tutaia and Ameliaranne Wells.