I have also been a critic of AD and am very happy that he has made some great strides towards becoming a quality NRL centre.
In relation to his improved defence. I have to give him due credit because he made a couple of good calls. However, the calls he made were to follow the defensive system for that area of the field, they weren't anything that your would call an effort play. HAving said that it was a significant improvement on him rushing out of the line and being stranded.
His defining tackle last week was classic up and in, where he was able snuff the play out If the play was to get past him there was cover available, with time, space and momentum, to deal with it. This demonstrated not only an improvement in AD's ability, but also the improvement of the defensive system in general.
Contrast this against what happened on the other wing when the Phins scored their first try. Taruva did not follow Toa up and was caught waving his arms about in no mans land. (Many incorrectly calling Toa out for "rushing out of the line"). Taruva's failure to follow the system held up Bula, who probably had the time, space and momentum to use the sideline to deal with the threat. So credit to AD is deserved, but just remember that hwe was simply doing his job and following the system.
If you look more closely at his game; the 1%ers that separate valuable NRL players from the average are just not there. He gives up on the defensive play as soon as the ball is out of his corridor, as a result he hardly contributes to the scramble, he watches a spilt ball insead of putting his body over it and he makes no effort to fight to his feet once tackled.
So, despite his improvements, he is not mates/team first player. He is doing his job pretty well; but his team first and effort plays are lacking. Apart from his goalkicking there isn't much to separate him from any other journeyman centre in the NRL.
For mine his effort reflects his current salary. Now that he has mastered the basics of his job he needs to take a long hard look at himself in the mirror and live up to his claims of being a leader. Once he does that - then it may be time to chat about a contract extensiuon. Until then he can go an play for one of the other 16 clubs and we can buy in, or develop, a centre with ability and passion.