How long does an NRL game go for?

The NRL is one of the most popular leagues in Australia, drawing millions of TV viewers and tens of thousands of spectators to the individual games.

One of the most frequently asked questions is – How long on average does an NRL Game last? Find the answer to this question and more in the information provided below.

How long is an average NRL game?

A Rugby League match (NRL) is timed to run for 80 minutes, and it consists of two 40 minute halves separated by a 10 minute half-time. After half-time the sides will change ends so that both teams play against the same pitch.

The game itself will last much longer than the 90 minutes allotted, due to play stoppages (scores, out of bounds), penalties or injuries needing medical attention.

On average, an NRL game will last about two hours. However, in some instances a match can stretch out to almost three hours if the play has to be stopped due to multiple injuries requiring medical assistance. Fortunately, that’s a rare occurrence.

How long are Rugby Union matches?

The NRL premiership and it’s international equivalent rugby union have many similarities, and they both have shared origin. They both play the game for a total of 80 minutes, and can take longer depending on the points scored and other play stoppages. The players can only pass the ball backwards, as dropping the ball forward leads to a scrum.

On the other hand, the Rugby League World Cup has a halfway line where each player’s position aligns at every start of the match. The opposing team can either choose to kick off or receive the kickoff. Both the opposing team fields are identical, with 10 metres from the 50-metre line, then the 40-metre line, followed by the 30, 20, 10-metre and the ‘try’ or goal line. It all sums up to 100-metre field that is used for general play.

In Super League Rugby, an attacking team gets a maximum of six tackles to progress up the field before possession is changed over, and the ball carrier can score points just by kicking the ball for goals into the goal line (also called try line). A player gets a goal-line drop out if he is tackled behind his own goal line, where his team will be given a chance to perform a drop between their own goalposts.

How long does an NRL Grand Final last?

The NRL Grand Final is generally one of the longest games of the year. The reason for this is because of frequent stoppages due to scores, penalties or injuries. There’s also an expanded half-time show.

For comparison, over the past three years the average duration of the NRL Grand Final, from start to finish, has been 2 hours and 29 minutes long.

Here in 2024 the NRL Grand Final is scheduled to be played on Sunday, the 6th of October. All Grand Final events will be shown live on Channel 9 and their streaming platform 9Now.

How to watch NRL games

There are multiple options throughout the season when it comes to watching professional sports like the National Rugby League.

All of the NRL Premiership games, the Finals, and Grand Final can be either be watched on TV or streamed live with a mobile device. If you’re travelling overseas, there are also some great options, meaning you never have to miss matches wherever you are.

Stream NRL games live with Kayo Sports

You can watch live NRL games online free with Kayo Sports if you are already a subscriber. Kayo Sports offers the same broadcasts as Fox Footy (Foxtel), meaning every head to head from every round (excluding the Grand Final).

Kayo Sports doesn’t have a lock-in contract or set up fees, which means you can cancel anytime if you’re no longer using it. For fans who want to catch up on the action after the final whistle, Kayo Minis provide a 10-20-minute recap after the game is over.

Other Kayo features include Interactive Graphics, SplitView, No Spoilers and Key Moments, which provide highlights throughout the matches in real-time.

Watch NRL games live with Foxtel

Fox Footy can be accessed via Foxtel and Foxtel Now. To watch on Foxtel with a Standard or High Definition TV, you have several choices, including subscribing to the Foxtel Plus pack to access over 50 channels of entertainment, drama, lifestyle, docos, reality and more. 

You can also watch Rugby League games live with Foxtel Now. Their 10-day free trial offer includes the option to stream games using the Foxtel Go app.

Fox Footy comes as part of the Foxtel Now Sports Pack ($29 per month), which can only be purchased on top of an Essentials Pack ($25 per month) after your free trial.

Streaming devices for watching NRL (Foxtel/Kayo)

Here is a list of streaming TV devices for streaming Rugby League Game sport on your home TV or mobile device.