There's view of Brian Cody that he would do anything to win an All-Ireland; that's he's a ruthless, bridge-burning, step over his own mother, win at all costs individual.
Despite this, it seems application of the 'dressing room wall material' cliche of motivating his players is an approach which he eschews.
That's according to TJ Reid who was speaking at the launch of Kellogg's GAA Cúl Camps.
Given that Kilkenny often find the embers of siege mentality in the most innocuous of remarks - this surprises.
On the first of this month - which threw fertiliser on the belief that he might be joking - Ger Loughnane said in an interview with GAA.ie that Kilkenny were nothing more than 'functional beyond belief' and that this iteration of the Cats should not be marching on their third consecutive All-Ireland.
What was the reaction from the Kilkenny panel? Were they infuriated? Was 2016 going to be about proving Ger Loughnane wrong? Did doubts begin to fester in some players?
Actually, reaction was non-existent, stated TJ Reid.
We didn't react at all to be honest. We don't sit down and bring up what people say in the paper to be honest.
It doesn't bother me. Ger Loughnane is trying to sell newspapers and trying to get people to read papers so he's entitled to his opinion. That's his job.
The last two years we've won the All-Ireland fair and square. We beat Galway and we beat Tipperary so I don't see why he was saying that. We're lucky to be going for three in a row to be honest
We won those two games fair and square so I can't really see why he's questioning that.
I think he said that it takes legends to win three in a row. So those legends are gone unfortunately in Henry (Shefflin), Tommy (Walsh) and JJ (Delaney) unfortunately.
They were probably the best generation we had but that generation is gone so it's up to myself and the rest of the boys now. We've got a new generation coming through and a new team coming through.
We're probably the hardest-working team out there and every time we hit that field our honesty and our work-rate is always 100 per cent. We mightn't have those legendary names out there but that's not our fault.
We're competing at our best and it's up to the rest of the counties to try and match us on the hurling field. We're probably the most honest group of hurling players out there.
In his 18th season as manager - one which sees him attempting to with his 12th All-Ireland title - you might have thought Cody's well of motivating tactics could be drying up or feel worn with some players.
Maybe it is (though it's doubtful), but still, no giant posters of Ger Loughnane's incendiary comments will be placed on the Nowlan Park dressing room walls.
Well I don't think so to be honest. I'll leave Brian Cody to motivate us. There certainly won't be any pictures going up on the walls saying 'Ger Loughnane this and Ger Loughnane that'. But look, he's entitled to his opinions, like anyone else. That's his job, to write about hurling and it doesn't bother me what he says or if he criticises us.
