Wells Crosses the Ditch to Join Haier Pulse   12 Aug 2014

Haier Pulse head coach Robyn Broughton has added her first shooter to the 2015 line-up, with the signing of 23 year old Ameliaranne Wells.

Ameliaranne is no stranger to the trans-Tasman competition, having spent the last four years with the Queensland Firebirds, where she was a member of the 2011 ANZ Championship winning team.

The former Australia U21 player was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, and has played all her netball to date for Australian teams. Ameliaranne’s father is Ngapuhi, so she is eligible to play in New Zealand as a non-import player.

“I still have a lot of family in New Zealand, so I can’t wait to get back to our family roots,” she explained. “It’s been a long time since we have been back, but I have this feeling like I’m coming home.”

Ameliaranne started her netball career when she was 12 years old and for the first six years her family had to drive her four hours to Brisbane every weekend for state training. At 18 she moved away from home to further her playing career. She was selected to play for Queensland’s U19s, who then went on to become the national champions.

“From there I was selected for the U19 Australian squad and travelled with the Australian Institute as a rotating scholarship holder, visiting Singapore.
I also played in the U19 tri-nations competition against England and New Zealand, which we won. In 2011, I toured New Zealand with the Australian U21s, ” she said.

“I am super-excited to be able to explore my netball in Wellington for the Haier Pulse. I can’t wait to start working with a new group of wonderful girls and I am completely humbled by the opportunity of being able to join a new netball family.

“2015 will be hard work and I can’t wait to tackle some new challenges and hit the court in yellow. I am looking forward to meeting everyone, especially Irene. I can’t even begin to imagine how much I will be able to learn working with her.

Haier Pulse and Netball Central Zone CEO Carolyn Young believes the Queenslander will bring a new dimension to the team, “Ameliaranne has represented Australia at age group level and is an experienced ANZ Championship player. She brings with her familiarity of the Australian approach to netball that will only add to the team’s overall skill base next season.

“Ameliaranne is an excellent addition to the team.”

The Haier Pulse has already secured defenders Katrina Grant, Te Huinga Reo-Selby Rickit and Ama Agbeze, and mid-courters Elias Shadrock and Whitney Souness for the 2015 ANZ Championship.

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