From Rock Bottom to the Grand Stage: Henry Slade Just Dragged Exeter to the Prem Final

Alright, listen up, Seattle! You won't believe what went down this weekend. We're talking about a comeback for the ages, the kind of gritty fight that makes you wanna run through a brick wall. Exeter, a team that literally posted their worst season ever last year, just clawed their way into the Prem final. And the man, the absolute legend pulling the strings? Henry Slade. This dude delivered big, turning around a crazy 26-10 deficit against Bath to win 27-26 in the semi-final. If that doesn't get your blood pumping, nothing will!

Slade's Wild Ride: From Sin-Bin to Hero

Let's break down the sheer drama of that semi-final against Bath. You had to be watching this. Henry Slade, their most experienced player, did what coach Rob Baxter called the "stupidest thing on the field" when he got himself sin-binned in the first half for a deliberate knock-on. Can you even imagine the frustration? Baxter himself said Slade looked like, "oh how have I done that, what have I done." But that's where the story gets good. Because when Slade came back, he absolutely orchestrated a historic fightback. The Chiefs were down 26-10, looking like they were dead in the water. But somehow, someway, they flipped the script, winning 27-26 and becoming the first third-placed side *ever* to make a Prem final. Baxter nailed it when he talked about Slade's leadership, saying, "When you've been there, you understand you can do things, when you've come from behind before you understand you can do things, when you've won Premiership finals you understand you can do it, you don't limit yourself from what you can achieve." That's leadership, plain and simple.

From Worst-Ever to the Final: The Redemption Arc

This isn't just a one-off miracle, folks. This is a team that's been through it. Slade, a Sandy Park academy graduate who's got 74 England caps and played in the 2019 World Cup final, is one of the last remaining players from Exeter's glory days, when they hit six straight Premiership finals from 2016 to 2021, grabbing trophies in 2017 and 2020. But then COVID hit, stars left, and the success dried up. We're talking consecutive seventh-placed finishes, and then last term, a ninth-place disaster, their heaviest-ever loss, and a paltry four wins all season. That was their worst-ever top-flight campaign! Fast forward to now, and they're in the final. Baxter is clearly stoked for the guys who are leaving the club, like former Australia prop Scott Sio. He talked about how he wanted these guys to experience "a decent Exeter Chiefs season" after some rough years. For Sio, Christ Tshiunza, and Rusi Tuima, who committed so fully, it's gotta feel incredible to go out on this high note.

What's Next: Twickenham Awaits!

So, what's next for the Chiefs? They're heading to Twickenham next Saturday, ready to face off against the regular-season table-toppers, Northampton Saints. This isn't just about a trophy; it's about validating an insane comeback season and sending off some committed players with the memory of a championship run. The guys who haven't experienced what a great Premiership season feels like? They're feeling it now, and hopefully, they can finish it off! Go Chiefs!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.