Referee Gerard Sutton will be in control of the Warriors this weekend.

New Zealand Warriors hooker Issac Luke says the 'demotion' of referee Gerard Sutton to their NRL game against the Titans on Sunday is "an insult".

In a hastily-deleted tweet, Luke wrote that he'd just discovered the "low profile" match Sutton had been assigned after a controversial showing in last weekend's match between the Cronulla Sharks and Canberra Raiders was one he and his team-mates will be playing in.

"What an insult. @NRL uppercut yourself. That's dispresectful [sic] to both teams. Lessssssgoooo Boys," Luke wrote.

TWITTER SCREENSHOT Issac Luke deleted his tweet that criticised the refereeing appointment.

Sutton is regarded as the NRL's top referee and was the lead whistleblower in all three State of Origin matches this year, but a story on the official NRL website said the ref "has been assigned to a lower-profile match."

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Penrith Panthers boss and media pundit Phil Gould replied to a question from a fan on Twitter over the appointment.

"To describe it as demotion is demeaning to teams involved," Gould wrote.

GETTY IMAGES Issac Luke of the Warriors isn't happy with the refereeing appointment for their game against the Titans.

"It highlights naivety, insensitivity, inexperience. All the things that have referees in the situation they currently find themselves. All this can be fixed. I honestly believe it. But I can't see these people fixing it."