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How long does a State of Origin game go for? NSW vs. QLD start and finish time

The Sporting News

How long does a State of Origin game go for? NSW vs. QLD start and finish time image

State of Origin 2025 has arrived at a decider.

The Blues and Maroons will face off in Sydney tonight in a highly anticipated Game III.

The Sporting News has the key timings.

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How long does a State of Origin game go for?

An Origin match – just like a standard NRL game – consists of two 40-minute halves, with a total playing time of 80 minutes.

Unlike sports like football, rugby league does not use a rolling clock.

Instead, the clock is paused when there is a stoppage in play, which is typically utilised for penalties and injuries.

The full-time whistle can only be blown once the last play is completed after 80 minutes, giving the team in possession one last chance to score.

Factoring in stoppages and a 15-minute half-time break, an Origin game typically lasts between 90 and 100 minutes from start to finish.

How long is State of Origin half-time?

While Origin is still a sporting spectacle, there's no Super Bowl-esque half-time show.

Players simply head back into their respective sheds for 15 minutes.

This is longer than the standard NRL half-time length, though, which is set at 10 minutes.

When does State of Origin start? Game 3 kick-off time

Game 3 will be played on Wednesday, July 9.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:05 pm AEST, although the start is typically delayed by five to 10 minutes due to the pre-match ceremony.

When does State of Origin finish? Game 3 end time

We can expect half-time to be called at roughly 9:00 pm AEST, with the full-time whistle to be blown just after 10:00 pm AEST.

This is, of course, subject to any significant stoppages in play.

The Sporting News

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