When the handler triggers on name only

<site siteid="TWO">
    <name>name2</name>
[download]

has been parsed so name is the only child the parent has.

Add a $cnt->parent->print statement to see it. If you change the order of elements your original code works.

<sites>
<site siteid="ONE">
   <name>name1</name>
   <address>address1</address>
   <contact>contact1</contact>
</site>
<site siteid="TWO">
   <address>address2</address>
   <contact>contact2</contact>
   <name>name2</name>
</site>
</sites>
[download]

If the handler is on site like choroba said, that is triggered after all the children have been parsed.

poj