"Sometimes a change is always good. Wanted to do some thing for myself," he said, noting the GM position had become all-encompassing and was coming at some sacrifice to family life, particularly missing out on enjoying watching his Northland-born daughter, now aged 3, growing up.
"It is sad to leave rugby league for the time being, it has been a huge part of my life for 25 years, but it is time for me to focus on a new business venture [selling rural real estate] and spend more time with my family." Smits said highlights during his tenure included securing the NZ Kiwis vs Toa Samoa Four Nations clash at Toll Stadium last year, making the RLN Premiership Finals series a major event on the Northland sporting calendar, and overseeing the growth of league at Northland primary and secondary school level. The 41-year-old firmly believed he was leaving an organisation in a strong position going forward..
"I'm leaving with my head held high, the game has improved untold since I've been here. Players are coming through, gaining recognition, numbers playing the game [are up]. The business - and it really is a business - is well set, financially secure with good structures in place ... [and] in a really good position for growth," he said, noting future success still hinged on good decisions being made to "improve the state of the game".
Of course it is also hard to avoid noting the rather large cloud hanging over Smits' departure. While there can be little doubt he's done much to unite a notoriously divisive scene, his successor will be left dealing with one quite large and very hot potato, that of the recent announcement by Far North clubs to form a breakaway competition.
Smits felt the Far North proposal had been made on the back of some uninformed decisions, and the fallout from the competition going ahead risked undoing much of the progress league had made under his guidance in the past five years.
"Some avenues need to be addressed. We are trying to develop the game throughout the whole province instead of making it North vs South."
In the meantime, Smits said his family were going to stay on in their adopted homeland as they'd come to consider themselves well and truly entrenched in Northland since moving from Wellington over four years ago.
"[This is a] Good place for kids," he said. "I'm [still] just committed to helping the game. Eighteen months on, who knows, I might pull out a coaching whistle."
Kudos from the chairmanRLN chairman Walter Wells looked back on Smits' distinguished record with the organisation and wished him all the best for the future.
"Alex Smits was dedicated to the cause, worked long hours and travelled thousands of kilometres to raise awareness and encourage loyalty to the zone amongst our clubs, rugby league players and supporters."
Wells noted Smits started in the role at the beginning of 2012, having previously played professional rugby league overseas. Having worked for the Rugby Football League in the UK, Smits made the move north from Wellington where he was Community Development Manager with the Wellington Zone. Since arriving in Northland, Smits oversaw a rise in participation numbers, increased the zone's public profile and worked tirelessly to improve the game experience locally, Wells said.
"He was responsible for securing a number of new sponsors, including naming rights partners for local competitions, and persuaded local businesses to lend their names to local competitions, trophies and social and health promotions. His passion and commitment to the rugby league pathway saw the Leadership through League programme introduced into Northland bringing primary and secondary schools together; and showed active leadership to improve sideline behaviour with the Don't Be an Egg campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development violence prevention programme, It's Not OK!
"Smits was also constant support and champion for local players who may not otherwise have received the exposure their big-city counterparts do, with players going on to attend New Zealand Rugby League national performance camps and crossing the Tasman to start their careers with NRL clubs," said Wells.
"He has applied his knowledge across a range of areas, including marketing, commercial and game development and volunteered as a match official. We will be sorry to lose him, He leaves a wonderful legacy and we have no doubt our new general manager will have a solid foundation to build on."
And in what was being regarded as a bit of a reverse double whammy, Wells noted Rugby League Northland was also losing the services of its club development officer, Toni Haldane.
"Toni is well known in the rugby league community for her commitment and empathy in supporting clubs and the game. She has built a great rapport with the clubs during her time with Rugby League Northland and is well respected amongst her peers," Wells said, also wishing Haldane all the best for the future on behalf of the organisation.
Wells went on to note recruitment for these roles is under way, with the aim of filling them by the new year. Both Smits and Haldane will remain with RLN until December 18 to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
