Mitchell and Crichton are close from their time together at Bondi Junction and the pair toured together as part of the World Cup-winning Kangaroos squad late last year. The Rabbitohs fullback said Crichton remained in his thoughts as he prepares for Saturday night’s clash against Cronulla.

“I reached out to his dad actually [on Tuesday],” Mitchell said at the Sydney premier of Creed III, which was the first time Tim Tszyu and Tony Harrison came together ahead of the interim WBO super-welterweight title on March 12.

“I just wanted to make sure they are alright. That’s the type of person I am, I try to reach out and put my best foot forward. I’ve got a good connection with Charlie, his old man and Gussy, we won a comp together.

“I wanted to make sure they are doing alright, that they are travelling OK.

“It is what it is. I don’t want to comment too much on it, it’s their personal lives, with what they are going through.