add halifax and widnes (widnes because i want our derby bk ) and have 16 tems

I don't see how it restricts competition - the only difference between the old system and the new one is the frequency of promotion and the terms on which promotion is granted. I'd be astounded if anyone thought that the prospects of success were that good that it was worth a challenge, to the EU or otherwise. In any event, as you rightly point out, it would cost a fortune - in the unlikely event that anyone did think it was worth a punt the cost would be prohibitive.

Licence system is here to stay, in one form or another, whether people like it or not.

They'd just look silly to be honest. Those are the rules and everyone must comply. They didn't tick enough boxes to be accepted in Super League, they know what boxes need to be ticked and they are probably going about rectifying it over the course of the next three years.

What shouldn't be overlooked, IMO, is where were these MPs when Halifax were staring into the Abyss of relegation from NL1, the stadium didn't look like being completed and they faced financial ruin?

The issue is that vertical competition would be restricted in that the businesses incorporating those clubs in the lower leagues are restrained from competing with those businesses in the upper league for a specific period of time where that restriction is set by the RFL and not market forces. Therefore the market is distorted on the basis of competition being restricted. This only applies if it can be argued the clubs are businesses and not purely sporting organisations.

Its a long shot and probably not worth it.

Surely the ability to be competitive would form part of the criteria, as subjective an a review it could be.

Long shot being the operative phrase - every promotion and relegation systems imposes criteria, they're just less distinct and open than the RFLs. For example, there are ground criteria for promotion to the FA Premier League. I don't think the specific period of time point makes any great difference - you're still saying Club A you can come in potentially, Club B, you can't because your ground isn't up to scratch, in the Premier League, all seater with specific facilities. The same as franchising.

=A few RL clubs fired off a few speculative letters to the RFL about the salary cap. I suspect they came to the same conclusion - arguable on paper, little or no chance in reality. Interesting stuff though.