NRL throws support behind Ben Cummins after his grand final blunder

He may be public enemy No. 1 in Canberra but the referee at the centre of the grand final controversy, Ben Cummins, has found an unlikely supporter in the nation’s capital.

Referee Ben Cummins has received support from the NRL.

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The NRL has promised to throw its full support behind under-fire referee Ben Cummins.

A raft of online vitriol has come Cummins’ way following the end of Sunday’s controversial grand final.

Cummins has been lambasted for backtracking on a six to go call which resulted in Canberra surrendering possession.

The NRL has put measures in place to help Cummins deal with the fallout.

“Sometimes things happen that are no ones fault,” Beattie said. “Nobody is saying Ben went out there to make a bad decision. Of course he didn’t.

“We will support him because at the end of the day if people keep vilifying referees no one will want to do this job.

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Cummins changed his ruling on the fly.

“You’ve just got to make sure you do (support them) and that they keep getting these decisions right.”

Beattie also praised Ricky Stuart’s post-game preference where the Canberra coach refused to be drawn into the match officials.

“Ricky Stuart was incredibly classy,” Beattie said. “Lets give him credit.”

Cummins himself admitted just last week he at times doesn’t want to go out in public after “a dusty game” to avoid copping it from unhappy fans.

“If people want to talk footy (in public) I enjoy doing that,” Cummins said.

Cummins has come under heavy criticism. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

“If you’ve had a dusty game sometimes you don’t want to go out in public because you know people will say things.”

Meanwhile Canberra legend and Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga offered Cummins some salvation on Monday.

Meninga, who blew the horn to begin the Raiders’ Viking Clap before the grand final, reiterated Canberra coach Ricky Stuart’s stance not to publicly criticise officials over the call.

“That’s footy. Things go against you,” Meninga said.

“And as Ricky said you’ve got to find solutions.

“The Rooster took their opportunities and the Raiders didn’t.”

Originally published as NRL throws support behind Ben Cummins after his grand final blunder