There's been a bit of drama in the surf on the Sunshine Coast involving the Canberra Raiders.

A mock surf competition between the players and some local Nippers turned into a rescue on Mooloolaba Beach when one of the players got into trouble.

Forward Iosia Soliola said he panicked in the surf when everyone had moved away from him in the water, and he didn't know how far he had to come back to shore.

Forward Iosia Soliola said he 'panicked' in the surf. (9NEWS)

One of the young lifesavers headed out on the rescue and brought the burly forward back on his surfboard.

Back on shore, an obviously shaken Soliola said: "When everyone was was gone and I didn't know how far I had, I just panicked as the buoy was too far back for me to go."

But some good natured ribbing from his teammates got him smiling again.

The Canberra Raider said he'll take his son to Nippers after his close encounter. (9NEWS)

Soliola is teased by his teammates. (9NEWS)

"I was just waiting for all the kids to come and save me.

"That's what happens when you don't do Nippers...I'm taking my son to Nippers now," he said.

The Raiders big man bounces off a New Zealand Warriors player last season. (AAP)

There was also a report that one of young surfers encountered some trouble and was rescued in turn by some of the Raiders.