Supporters' anger over the Warriors' Eden Park finals defeat does not justify the abuse directed at Ashley Klein and other officials after Sunday's match.
Ben argued that controversial calls, even those that may have cost the Warriors victory, cannot excuse threats, abuse or degrading treatment.
The players' missed tackles and dropped balls also contributed, but officials remain people with families and friends affected by such hostility.
The problem extends beyond rugby league: Hawthorn fans abused AFL umpires after their preliminary final, just 24 hours earlier.
This behaviour can shrink the officiating talent pool and encourage officials to unite defensively, making genuine improvement harder.
It also fails to solve the legitimate concern that important finals are too often shaped by refereeing decisions rather than players.
Officials should face criticism, and Ben said NRL officiating has arguably failed for years to match the competition's playing standard.
Too many matches hinge on major calls, some of which are wrong; players making comparable errors would likely be dropped or never reach the NRL.
However, those concerns cannot be addressed while referees remain targets for personal abuse, threats of violence and public denigration.