Steve Smith’s tale of redemption, as told by every newspaper ever
Imagine if you could predict what would be on the front page of the newspaper 15 months from now. Could you do it?
Dr Mumbo predicts most of you couldn’t, but 15 months ago Declan Byrne did just that – accurately calling how our news outlets would treat the return of once-disgraced, now apparent national hero, Steve Smith.
I’ve saved everyone the time and created the front page of every paper in 15 months. pic.twitter.com/D2kqTnfUWV
— Declan Byrne (@dec_byrne) March 29, 2018
In a tweet posted on 29 March last year (and brought to Dr Mumbo’s attention by Triple M Cricket), Declan Byrne spared us all the trouble and prepared the newspapers of today in advance.
When tweets tell the future… ? https://t.co/J6OstV7A7z
— Triple M Cricket (@triplemcricket) August 2, 2019
Now the real test, was he right?
Well, mostly.
Smith’s arms were indeed in the air on the front and back pages of Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph which ran a splash praising Smith (but let’s face it, for any mega sports fan, the back page IS the front page).
Then there’s News Corp’s national broadsheet The Australian, which gave the “ultimate tale of redemption” above-the-fold treatment.
And within The Australian, the tale was even more emphatic than Byrne himself predicted.
Down in Adelaide, News Corp’s The Advertiser gave Smith some front-page love
And some more love in its beloved sports pages.
While Brisbane stablemate The Courier Mail failed to give any front-page attention to the Smith love-in.
Never fear though, Dr Mumbo found it on the beloved back page.
And even in footy-obsessed Melbourne, the Herald Sun found some room for Smithy on both the front and back pages.
And how about the papers owned by Nine, which entered into a deal to buy the Fairfax papers around this time last year, and is currently broadcasting The Ashes?
Well The Sydney Morning Herald was having none of it on the front page.
But on the ACTUAL front page (well, the sports front page), it was, as soothsayer Byrne predicted, there – front and centre.
Not to mention, an addition tale on page seven.
Down in Melbourne, Nine’s The Age also wasn’t giving cover-page love to this as-yet-untold and exclusive tale of redemption, but it found its way onto the front page for sport.
And within The Age, it was a celebration for the ages.
Nine’s financial title The Australian Financial Review had more serious things to talk about on the front page.
But in amongst its stories on banking, Crown Casinos, trade wars, and top five cruises, there it was – redemption at last.
Dr Mumbo salutes you Sir Byrne!