How long is NRL half time? Game length, breaks, amount of minutes for matches

Kieran Francis

How long is NRL half time? Game length, breaks, amount of minutes for matches image

There is nothing worse than being into an NRL match before the half-time break rudely interrupts your enjoyment of the contest.

How long do you have to wait until the second half begins?

The Sporting News has all the answers on the structure of NRL games.

MORE: 2024 NRL live ladder | Every NRL club's updated injury list Every NRL fixture and result for each club

How long is the NRL half-time break?

In between the two 40-minute halves of an NRL match, a scheduled 10-minute half-time break is held.

This is designed for players to recuperate after the first half and allow the coaching to make tactical adjustments to the team.

How long is an NRL game?

An NRL game consists of two 40-minute halves, which makes up 80 minutes of ticking time across both periods.

However, once the clock strikes 40 minutes in the first half and 80 minutes in the second half, the game is only complete once the current play ends, allowing for an exciting, last-ditch attempt at victory in a close game.

With clock stoppages for injuries, penalties and the 10-minute half-time break, the entire NRL game from start to finish can go for between 90 and 100 minutes.

How long is the half-time break in State of Origin?

Being a marquee event, State of Origin's half-time break differs slightly to a regular NRL game.

When the first half of an Origin match finishes, a half-time break of 15 minutes is scheduled - instead of the usual 10 minutes for an NRL game.

How long is an NRLW game?

The rise of women's sport has seen NRLW become a popular competition.

It's game length differs slightly to the NRL, with two halves consisting of 35 minutes each, with a 10-minute break for half-time.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.